Manager: Allen Iverson wants to play again

[Andrew]

Sure, all the talk's been about LeBron, Wade, Bosh and co, but AI is working on a comeback!

Gary Moore, Iverson’s personal manager, said that Iverson is planning a return to the NBA next season. Iverson returned to the Philadelphia 76ers in December and took a leave of absence in March because of family issues.

“Allen is working out and he’s getting himself prepared to make his return,” Moore said by phone Friday. “He absolutely will try and play next year.”

Iverson left the Sixers to deal with an undisclosed illness of his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah.

“With God’s graces, she’s doing very well,” Moore said.

Iverson has not talked publicly since ending his second stint with the Sixers. Iverson’s wife, Tawanna, filed for divorce the same week he left Philadelphia. He posted messages on his Twitter account in March telling fans he expected to overcome the most recent obstacles in his life.

In all seriousness though, it's good news that his daughter is doing well (whatever the illness may be); whatever criticisms we may lob at him as a player he's a human being and I wouldn't wish the misfortune of an ill child on anyone. As far as his NBA career is concerned, if he still wants to play then more power to him, though age certainly seems to have taken its toll, so the question remains whether he can accept that gracefully and fully transition into a supporting role.

[Axel The Great]

YES! It made me pretty sad that such a great player would retire that early, but now he's (hopefully) coming back. Though he may not put up 30-40 point performances anymore, but hey, it's Allen Iverson.

[Andrew]

If he did hang it up, it wouldn't exactly be early as he's 35 and has played 14 seasons in the league. Still, if he doesn't return his career will have gone out with something of a whimper.

[benji]

I don't know, I think alienating three teams directly and turning yourself into a pariah indirectly with the rest of the league is more of a "bang" than a "whimper."

[Andrew]

Good point, though it's maybe somewhere between a bang and a whimper. A thud, perhaps?

[Axel The Great]

If he did hang it up, it wouldn't exactly be early as he's 35 and has played 14 seasons in the league. Still, if he doesn't return his career will have gone out with something of a whimper.

Well, usually with good players like Allen Iverson, I expect them to retire usually when they are close to their 40's. Dikembe Mutombo is an example .

[benji]

You're aware, right, that's there only like 40 players in NBA history who have played past 37? And only seven who have played past 40?

Of those seven, only Karl Malone and John Stockton (freaks) were not 6-10 or taller.

And even more so, John Stockton is the only player under 6-2 to go past 38 after logging more than 37,000 career minutes. (And only four players have played past Iverson's current age with those requirements.)

[NovU]

I guess it's safe to say Stocton played fucking smart, while AI always always played dumb since his athleticism covered it pretty well. With AI's athleticism gone with the age, I don't expect him to be worth the risk anymore though part of me wants to see him playing good once again.

[shadowgrin]

Stockton isn't only smart, he's also a freak like that Kobe manservant benji said.
Source

From a purely clinical standpoint, he is a marvel even to doctors. His resting heart rate is 35 beats per minute -- half that of a relatively well-conditioned male. That trait alone allows him to recover while standing at the free throw line; other players must take timeouts or sit out to catch their breath. His body fat is four percent, the same as Karl Malone's and similar to that of world class bicycle racers. His cardiovascular system, lung capacity and blood pressure are far superior to an average person, and even superior to that of most athletes.

He doesn't sweat," says Jeff Condill, a former Gonzaga teammate and co-owner of Jack and Dan's Tavern, along with Stockton's father.

"His body," says Gonzaga trainer Steve Delong, "is, well, very efficient. His capillaries, how the oxygen exchanges through his lungs, his heart rate, blood pressure -- he's taken that and fine tuned it. He's a hell of an athlete as far as the human body is concerned. His body is very efficient."

Dr. Lyle Mason, the orthopedic surgeon who repaired Stockton's knee, concurs. "He could play all day," says Mason. "He wants to play 48 minutes and no doubt he could."

Stockton is like T-1000. He chase your ass all day without even breaking a sweat.



Outside of the Sixers, I can only think of three teams that may take Iverson.
Boston, a very far possibility if Nate, Finley, and Ray Allen are gone hoping that A.I. can contribute something as a veteran.
Miami, just so Riley can fill out the roster because their other PGs suck.
Charlotte, if D.J. Agustin still stays in Larry Brown's doghouse because of being clueless on defense and Larry Hughes starts being Larry Hughes again.

[Axel The Great]

You're aware, right, that's there only like 40 players in NBA history who have played past 37? And only seven who have played past 40?

Of those seven, only Karl Malone and John Stockton (freaks) were not 6-10 or taller.

And even more so, John Stockton is the only player under 6-2 to go past 38 after logging more than 37,000 career minutes. (And only four players have played past Iverson's current age with those requirements.)

Yes I do realize that, but at least one more season from AI is ok, for him anyways, since it's up to him to decide when to call it a day, but I don't expect him to play more after this upcoming season, especially, as ZanShadow said, his athleticism is gone.

[Rip32]

Yes I do realize that, but at least one more season from AI is ok, for him anyways, since it's up to him to decide when to call it a day

It really isn't ok for him, the NBA, or any NBA teams really. Staying another year will only hurt his legacy more. His upside if he stays is maybe a one year revival similar to the one Shaq had in 2009 with Phoenix.

Contenders are going to stay away from him like the plague, non-contenders are going to be right there avoiding him, and he's going to have to go to a bad team AND be a bench player. If he can do what he tried last year, and succeed, that could convince a borderline contender to take a shot on him at the trade deadline.

[Axel The Great]

He definitely won't be a starter or role player, not even on the Nets, and the most he'll play is around 15 mpg, at the most, if he plays some games. And with his scoring ability gone, he'll just have to distribute the ball more than he did in his good days. But really, I don't see him getting far this season, and I think this is probably his last season in the NBA.

[Andrew]

It really isn't ok for him, the NBA, or any NBA teams really. Staying another year will only hurt his legacy more. His upside if he stays is maybe a one year revival similar to the one Shaq had in 2009 with Phoenix.

Contenders are going to stay away from him like the plague, non-contenders are going to be right there avoiding him, and he's going to have to go to a bad team AND be a bench player. If he can do what he tried last year, and succeed, that could convince a borderline contender to take a shot on him at the trade deadline.

I don't know, I think most people outside of the most dedicated AI fans have him pegged as a tremendous talent with attitude/ego problems and an approach to the game that is unlikely to garner a championship. I think his legacy is pretty much set at this point, anything short of a revival is pretty much going to be a footnote.

I agree he's going to be a tough sell, but he seemed to behave himself in Philadelphia and didn't complain about shots or the like, so it's not entirely unfeasible that someone will show interest and take a chance.

[Rip32]

and the most he'll play is around 15 mpg, at the most

The day Allen Iverson agrees to a role where he's getting 15 minutes per game will be the day I get the NBA commissioner job.

[Sauru]

He definitely won't be a starter or role player, not even on the Nets,

what the fuck is he gonna come back as then? the water boy?

[Axel The Great]

He definitely won't be a starter or role player, not even on the Nets,

what the fuck is he gonna come back as then? the water boy?

Yes. A guy who is aging and used athleticism (which has fizzed away) to score, I don't see him starting, and if he starts, well maybe that team doesn't have another true PG.

[Murat]

bored from iverson. he said i will retire at november 2009. now he is saying "i want to play again"

[Martti.]

He would still start at the All-Star Game with his big fan base.

[Sauru]

He would still start at the All-Star Game with his big fan base.

which goes to show the problem with the fan vote for an all star game. either remove the fan vote or rename it

[Andrew]

Or leave his name off it. Seemed to work with Yao last year.

[Axel The Great]

bored from iverson. he said i will retire at november 2009. now he is saying "i want to play again"

And you said you slapped yourself 10 times in the World Cup thread and you probably never did it.

[Murat]

Why, I did it. I can swear.

[NovU]

If the Heat fails to land a decent PG this offseason, I'd love to see AI as a Heat. I know the risks but still was a fan of him to some degrees when he was younger so hoping to see rejuvenated AI wherever he lands.

[Jackal]

You want every free agent to go to Miami.

[NovU]

Since we will hardly keep anyone from last season's roster, I'm just excited to see who are available to fill the roster.