Iverson officially done with the Sixers
The Sixers announced today that Allen Iverson will not be returning to the team for the rest of the season, perhaps ending his career.
Iverson officially done with the Sixers
Bob Cooney
The Sixers made it official this morning that guard Allen Iverson will not be returning to the team this season.
Iverson missed five games before the All-Star break to be with his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah, who is suffering from an undisclosed illness. After coming back for a three-game stint, Iverson left again before the team embarked on a west coast swing and has not returned, missing the past four games.
It would appear that Iverson's career has come to an end, as his game, as well as his desire to keep playing it, appears to have diminished significantly as the season went on.
In a statement, president and general manager Ed Stefanski said: "After discussing the situation with Allen, we have come to the conclusion that he will not return to the Sixers for the remainder of the season, as he no longer wishes to be a distraction to the organization and teammates that he loves very deeply. It has been very difficult for Allen and the team to maintain any consistency as he tries to balance his career with his personal life."
The team said they will release any additional updates on Iverson's status as they become available.
Certainly one of the five best sixers of all time...Chamberlain...Dr. J...AI...ummm...ummm...guess one of the three best!— ceocreates- I give two partie credit; (1) The Sixers for having the class to "GIVE" a job to the very man that made them relevant as a team and organization (outside of Doc's and Barkley's sixers; this franchise is lame) and (2) A.I. for being a good teammate and keeping his mouth quiet (sure we all wish he woulda done more on the court BUT that man gave us EVERYTHING he had for 8 years.); wish the EAGLES knew how to treat people and players...THEY SUCK!!!!!— RoastedBird
- waste of time, money, effort, trust, etc. did anyone expect anything less?— lcr-54
- He was the greatest little man I ever saw. GOOD LUCK AI!!
- Iverson was great to watch, particularly when coached by Larry Brown and surrounded by Eric Snow, Aaron McKie, George Lynch, Theo, etc....turned blocked shots and loose balls into baskets faster than anyone. It is time that we find, draft, trade for the next great player on this team; Iverson earned his money with the 76ers, and he deserves his daughter to be well again. We, as fans, deserve to put the subject of Iverson in the past; focus on what Snider, Luukko, and Stefanski are not doing.— 76erfn
- Hey Art, the AI of 2001 and the AI of 2010 are both worth remembering. 2001 was the Warrior Iverson who left everything on the court. The 2010 was the dedicated father Iverson who cares more about his daughter than anything else in the world. He's not the greatest 76er of all time, but he will always be among the ranks of the greatest.— Scorekeeper
- Considering that he would not add to the larger picture anyway let us ALL focus on the MUCH larger picture in all this: Hope and pray that the medical issues confronting a four year old baby girl and her family get resolved. Bless them all.— TBear
AI signs off with Ed's blessing...Brand takes a seat with a 'sore' achilles in his so-called good leg...next week Iggy will develop back spasms. The FO has decided to tank 60 games into the season...good work Eds....so subtle.— scmona
After Iverson gets caught again with his hand in the cookie jar, an article is written about it, a blog set up to talk about it, and then we hear "Let it go." Not gettin' off that easy. He made his bed in front of the world...and got paid for it. He earned and deserves the hate.
Comment removed.- AI was never mentally strong. He can't handle the every day struggles in life. Later AI..Please don't come back Y'all!— mainstreet
- Its time for this Sixers franchise to get on with dying Just like before Barkley and before AI, they will be putrid until they draft another all timer.— JonKap
- A.I. is finished in Philadelphia, unfortunately we didnt get to see anymore Playoff heroics from him. You will be missed Bubba Chuck, retire his jersey #3.— sepboy215
- mariemilo......I would dispute your statement that Iverson is the best little man to EVER play in the NBA. While I love Iverson for what he did for the Sixers and this city, he was NOT the best little man ever. He will go down as the most "prolific scorer" for his size but as far as the best little man to ever play....I would recommend checking on a little guy from the Bronx named Nate "Tiny" Archibald. Tiny led the league in both scoring (34.0 ppg) and assists (11.4 apg) in the same season (72-73) and keep in mind that three-point shot was not instituted until the 79-80 season. Nate had a complete game while Iverson was a one-dimensional player.— joerecker
- OK, now time to get rid of Brand. Buy him out. Anyone notice how much better Thad played last night with Brand out of the lineup?— CBent1
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
