Allen Iverson retires, unretires, then signs with Sixers

[Fresh8]

Link

Just got to say that it seems that Iverson is putting an end to his career. Very sad and unfortunate because I still saw a few years left in him. I guess his head is just not in the game and he just can't accept being brought off the bench.

[The X]

Pride comes before a fall. I guess the fact is his teams were only ever successful when they were built around him rather than him being a part of a team.

[Oznogrd]

hm interesting but not altogether unsurprising. I hope he stays out and signs a 1 day deal with the 76ers to retire rather than further sullying his legacy.

[JaoSming]

fuck him



I dont really care about this stuff, I mean, I didnt have a lot of respect for him even when he was with the 76ers, I'm just pissed cause the Grizzlies were a really good video game team online with him.

[J@3]

This guy is a fucking headcase.

[Amphatoast]

This guy is a fucking headcase.

reminds me of marbury and steve francis. All great scoring guards.. who all have problems changing roles as they got older

[Martti.]

I don't want him ending up like Francis and Marbury.

[Andrew]

Well, that didn't last long. I suppose I should've seen it coming the minute he complained about coming off the bench in his regular season debut with the Grizzlies though I thought perhaps they'd iron it out, or he'd stick it out a bit longer. I guess not.

I have to admit I feel a little sorry for him though. There's obviously professional dissatisfaction afoot and that's something I can relate to, plus it's a shame to see a player with his talent fizzle out and perhaps even end their career on a note like this. It's a shame that he's having trouble adjusting to a new role as his career begins to wind down and that ego continues to get in the way of truly maturing as a professional, because he'll probably be remembered for incidents like this (particularly if he does walk away now) more than some of the things he accomplished on the basketball court. It's a shame, but I think it's fair to say he's brought it upon himself.

Of course, I have to wonder if he wasn't promised a bigger role with the team during the negotiations this offseason and now feels slighted by his relegation to the bench (and possible lack of opportunities to prove his worth). Whatever the case may be, his career is in desperate need of rehabilitation and so far, it's not going well at all.

[yosifun]

phpBB [video]

He should retire or go play in europe, nobody wants a headcase in his team..

BTW, I agree with DrGonzo, the 76ers is the true home for AI. He could power them up, but at what cost?

[NovU]

He shouldn't have signed with the Grizzlies in the first place. There was no way he was going to become a good mentor for young squad nor yield the starting position like I said during off-season. I really feel bad for Iverson but it seems his ego has killed reputation he built up all his career.

[Fresh8]

He shouldn't have signed with the Grizzlies in the first place. There was no way he was going to become a good mentor for young squad nor yield the starting position like I said during off-season. I really feel bad for Iverson but it seems his ego has killed reputation he built up all his career.

It's not like there was anywhere else to go.

And it sounds like his career is pretty much over unless he comes back as a backup. And I think he has too much pride to play anywhere but in the NBA.

[Modifly]

I really feel bad for Iverson but it seems his ego has killed reputation he built up all his career.

His ego really did killed him. That's why I dont feel sorry for him at all. I also dont care. I've never had any respect for him. I wont argue that he's a very talented player, but this was a long time coming.. missing practices and all that crap since his Detroit days. He should admit that he's not the player he used to be anymore, that's why he's not getting starter minutes. I strongly think that he's still capable of averaging 20 ppg or something like that, but since he's so arrogant and troublesome, it's the end of the story for him.

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

fuck him



I dont really care about this stuff, I mean, I didnt have a lot of respect for him even when he was with the 76ers, I'm just pissed cause the Grizzlies were a really good video game team online with him.

Yes thats right JaoSming, the 76´ers and AI was a heart and soul, but his ego is the skill and thats the reason why he fucked up

[Andrew]

His ego really did killed him. That's why I dont feel sorry for him at all. I also dont care. I've never had any respect for him. I wont argue that he's a very talented player, but this was a long time coming.. missing practices and all that crap since his Detroit days. He should admit that he's not the player he used to be anymore, that's why he's not getting starter minutes. I strongly think that he's still capable of averaging 20 ppg or something like that, but since he's so arrogant and troublesome, it's the end of the story for him.

I'm not usually one to defend a player in this situation, but even if he's gone about it the wrong way I think he has a point. If he's still capable of being that productive then I think he is capable of still being starter; certainly he has the right to compete for a starting spot and be disappointed if that opportunity isn't there, particularly if he was led to believe otherwise while negotiating with the Grizzlies.

It's also worth noting Lionel Hollins vehement assertions that Iverson is attending to a family matter that will not be disclosed. Obviously that could simply be PR but perhaps it isn't and if not, then it must be quite serious for him to be granted an indefinite leave of absence. If it's merely a cover then chances are it will be blown by an insider leaking the truth sooner or later, but if he is dealing with some troubling family issues then I can certainly sympathise with him. Without knowing the details, we can't exactly say he brought that on himself especially if it's an illness or the like. Of course there's always going to be some skepticism with AI and if/when he does return, there's still the matter of him being unhappy coming off the bench to deal with.

[NovU]

he has a point. If he's still capable of being that productive then I think he is capable of still being starter; certainly he has the right to compete for a starting spot

Yeah... I agree.

He wouldn't have signed with Grizzlies in the first place, if was going to be ok with a lessor role and if the teams thought he was going to be ok with lessor roles, I think more teams would've wanted him during offseason.

But I guess Grizllies didn't want to sacrifise/risk development of young core players they have, also wanted to lure crowd with Iverson at the same time.

[Fresh8]

I think more teams would've wanted him during offseason.

The general opinion is that not many teams wanted him and the Grizzlies only were interested in gambling on him because they knew that he would be perfect to help lure crowds.

It's also worth noting Lionel Hollins vehement assertions that Iverson is attending to a family matter that will not be disclosed. Obviously that could simply be PR but perhaps it isn't and if not, then it must be quite serious for him to be granted an indefinite leave of absence.

When the news first broke, it was implied that Iverson had walked out on the team. A few hours later, they added that the team was saying it was for personal reasons. Then after that, the story changed to it was for personal reasons... so I do believe that calling it 'personal reasons' (why i put it in quotation marks) is all for PR and yes, it is serious. And we may be seeing the end of Allen Iverson's basketball career.

[Andrew]

Clearly there was a miscommunication or a change of plan somewhere along the line. We still haven't received an inside scoop on him actually being banished from the team rather than being granted a leave of absence as reported so it's quite possible there's genuinely a personal issue that's keeping him away from the team at this time. Of course, it's going to look bad as it coincides with his very public dissatisfaction with coming off the bench.

When the news first broke, it was implied that Iverson had walked out on the team. A few hours later, they added that the team was saying it was for personal reasons. Then after that, the story changed to it was for personal reasons... so I do believe that calling it 'personal reasons' (why i put it in quotation marks) is all for PR and yes, it is serious. And we may be seeing the end of Allen Iverson's basketball career.

True, but that proves nothing except that the media will come out with a headline before all the details are known. Any word of Iverson leaving the team was bound to be linked to his dissatisfaction with coming off the bench, until further clarification. And it still could be, I won't deny that. But I think there is a possibility that there is a serious personal/family issue keeping him away from the team as currently reported.

[Fresh8]

Clearly there was a miscommunication or a change of plan somewhere along the line. We still haven't received an inside scoop on him actually being banished from the team rather than being granted a leave of absence as reported so it's quite possible there's genuinely a personal issue that's keeping him away from the team at this time. Of course, it's going to look bad as it coincides with his very public dissatisfaction with coming off the bench.

Or he decided to walk out on the team.

If it's a personal reason, which I'm not saying is unlikely, then he may be back. If he walked out on the team, which I am inclinced to feel is what happened in this situation, then I don't think he will be back.

Additional information that I did not add in my last post. In the original article, it stated that Iverson said he needed to go 'clear his head' and that's why he left. So that could go either way but with all his complaining in the media and the Grizzlies' slide to 1-5, hard to not believe that Iverson just quit on the team.

I think there is a possibility that there is a serious personal/family issue keeping him away from the team as currently reported.

I'm not discounting that idea either.

I guess all we can do is play the waiting game.

[Andrew]

It's entirely possible that he walked out on the team, but I honestly think if that's what happened, there wouldn't be anything holding back the story. The Grizzlies would either just come out and say it (though I suppose keeping it quiet could help if they're going to try and trade him, which they might be able to do given that he's only on a one year deal) or the details would leak out as they so often do.

[Fresh8]

Or they're not saying anything so that the players prepare for games without intense media scrum? (something they've never had before)

But yes, the fact that no media 'leak' has happened may be strange but perhaps Iverson asked for privacy when he didn't?

Would not be surprised if this went either way though.

[Andrew]

Perhaps, but no matter what the question of Iverson is going to be raised and if he walked out on them it doesn't reflect badly on the team or the rest of the players, so the only reason they'd protect him would be to preserve what little trade value he might have.

As I said before, I wouldn't usually take up for a player with AI's history in a case like this, but his public complaints about coming off the bench aside I'm not entirely sure he's the bad guy this time around.

[Fresh8]

Oh yeah... if the team said that he would get to start or at least get good minutes and have a shot at the starting spot... and if they backtracked on that agreement, which no doubt would have induced him in signing with the team... then AI is not totally at fault. The injury may have been a small setback but Mike Conley has not exactly been playing great and the Grizzlies aren't winning.

[Andrew]

I was talking more about his current absence but there certainly is that. I don't doubt that there's ego and pride involved and that's led him to make those public remarks, which wasn't really a good move and I can't really defend that since that's the kind of thing that should be dealt with in-house, not through the media. But I feel he has a point, even if he went about it the wrong way, and I have my doubts that he walked out on the team at this point. I'm sure more will be written about it at some point, so we'll get to hear more of the story in time.

[NovU]

Frankly, I was really surprised to see Iverson starting his debut game from the bench and also in the following games, not to mention average of 22 minutes of playing time. I don't think there was any ways the Grizzlies could have signed Iverson by convincing him to take on a such minor role for the team. I am with Andrew's insight all the way in this one, although, it'd have been nice if all this happening could have been settled rather quitely.

[Andrew]

If and when he returns, I hope that's what happens; that he and Hollins can iron it all out without sniping through the media and that whatever happens from here on out, AI can finish his career with some semblence of dignity.