+Allen Iverson is said to readying an official retirement from the NBA despite being 38 years old and not playing in the league for five years! Is he Hall of Fame worthy? Personally I would say no because he never became the great player that many, included myself envisioned him of being. He was selected first overall in a draft that consisted of future hall of famers such as +Kobe Bryant, +Ray Allen, and Steve Nash, among others and all those guy eclipsed him. At first people loved him for his rebellious, non conformist attitude on and off the court, but during the course of his career, it got tired.
Sure, Iverson was an eleven time +NBA All Star and led the +Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1983 (I think), but after that both him and the Sixers went down hill from there.
To start off, he was notoriously known for blowing off and disrespecting his coach, blatantly breaking team rules, polarizing himself from his teammates, and just acting above everyone. In his career in Philly, he went through four coaches and Philly got so tired of his petulant attitude that they traded him for pennies to the dollar to the +Denver Nuggets for point guard Andre Miller. What was even more ironic was that Philly actually improved once he left going from a team heading to the lottery to qualifying for the playoff by the end of the season. After two years in Denver where they won just ONE playoff game, Iverson then got shipped off to the +Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups which resulted in the Nuggets having their best playoff finish reaching the Western Conference Championship--yet another team that drastically improved upon AI's exit.
After forgetable season in Detroit, Iverson's career was basically over as he often butted heads with the coaching staff and management of the +Memphis Grizzlies before they team decided to part ways with him very acrimoniously. He returned to Philly, but by the time he got there, he was already used up--his body was shot as trademark speed and quickness had all but vanished. His poor attitude and lack of respect of authority eventually led him to become untouchable as no NBA team wanted anything to do with him. What was even MORE PATHETIC was upon leaving the NBA, it was discovered the Allen Iverson, a guy that made more 200$ million in his entire career in basketball and in endorsement, was COMPLETELY BROKE!!! He has spent the last four years as a travelling circus, looking for work ANYWHERE doing degrading job just to pay the bills--it looks as if he may have a home in the +WWE.
The same guy who was labeled as "the Answer," ending up being another but as his skill, abilities and accomplishments were overshadowed by his off the court antics and his sheer disrespect and lack of love for the game. There was hope that he would mature into a leader of men, that his strength and his determination would be a beacon for other, but he just settled for doing well enough to cash his paycheck. If anything, the legacy of Allen Iverson should be erased because, seriously he was a disgrace to the Sixers, the NBA, and basketball fans everywhere. Numerous people such as JR, like to make excuses for him saying that he did not have the right players and good enough teammates, etc; however to me, that's bullshit. Great players elevate their teammates and make the players around them--Iverson did not do that; in fact he did the complete opposite. So should we spend our time recognizing what can be seen as a wasted era by honoring a player that went against everything that the game represents? I SAY HELL NO.
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