Allen Iverson seems to be out of answers.
After missing a month with a back injury, then being relegated to the bench upon his return, The Answer began using the "R" word.
"I'd rather retire before I do this again," Iverson said last night.
The former 76er, acquired by the Detroit Pistons in a trade with Denver in December, missed 16 games with a bad back. He returned on Sunday, and coach Michael Curry has used him off the bench in the last three games.
Iverson had played only 18 minutes on Tuesday against Cleveland and complained mildly about that.
Last night he played only 17 minutes in a 111-98 loss to the Nets in East Rutherford.
"I'm in a position now that I've never been in my whole life," Iverson told the Asociated Press. "It's harder than I thought it would be. With the back injury, I have to sit out at the start, then go in, then sit again. It's tough to really get going. I take my hat off to the guys who can come off the bench and be effective. It's tough for me. I'm struggling with it."
Iverson went on to say he would not accept being a reserve next season.
"I'd rather retire before I do this again," he said. said. "I can't be effective playing this way. I'm not used to it. It's tough for me both mentally and physically. If I'm able to go out there, I should be able to get it done and I can't right now. It's my fault. I have to be able to overcome the adversity and do what I have to do. I just have to find a way to get it done. Not being 100 percent makes it harder, and you can see that I'm not 100 percent."
The 12-year veteran scored four points on 1-of-8 shooting last night. He has averaged 17.4 points in 54 games with the Pistons, about 10 points a game below his career mark.
On Tuesday night, Iverson had steered clear of saying he wouldn't be a bench-warmer next year.
"I'm looking at the big picture," he told the Detroit Free Press. "If I vent my frustrations, then it's on me. Being who I am, fingers are going to be pointed at me. People are going to make a big deal out of it. I'm just trying to laugh as much as I can and stop from crying."
It doesn't sound like he's doing much laughing right now.