The Case Against Iverson
Some fans wanted the 76ers to bring back Allen Iverson. The Sixers are not planning to do that. There are multiple reasons why the Sixers, even with their thin backcourt, are correct.
The Case Against Iverson
The messages filtered in for most of the summer, sometimes several a week. The basic premise was generally the same: If the 76ers were facing a transitional season, if they seemed to have a thin guard line, if they weren't going to win a whole lot of games, why not bring back Allen Iverson?
That troubled me, because I've always believed the basketball constituency in this area really understood and appreciated the game, especially backcourt players. But now there was a segment of fans who simply wanted a show. They wanted to recreate Iverson's performances that led him to four scoring titles and an MVP during his decade-plus here. They weren't accepting that Lou Williams, Willie Green, Royal Ivey, rookie Jrue Holiday and, at times, Andre Iguodala could be sufficiently effective, even in new coach Eddie Jordan's pass-and-cut Princeton offense.
They might be right about that part, but--and I should have said this in Sixerville much earlier--they were wrong about bringing back Iverson.
He might turn up in Memphis, or possibly in Charlotte, and he might sell some tickets and create some marketing benefits in those markets, but there would be no reason for him to turn up as a re-born Sixer. The evidence shows in his post-Sixers career in Denver and Detroit: The Nuggets improved dramatically when they acquired Chauncey Billups in a trade for Iverson; the Pistons became so disenchanted with Iverson's rebellion against coming off the bench that they sent him home.
So, each time an emailer broached the subject of bringing him back to the Sixers, I patiently tried to explain:
He's not the player he was during the Sixers' spectacular run to the NBA Finals in 2000-01. You can't live on memories.
He insists on playing major minutes, and that would mean holding back the development of Williams and Holiday. Williams has played four full seasons and has never started a game; it's time to find out whether he can be the3 backcourt leader. Holiday might not play much at the start, but--unless you're challenging for a championship--why give even those minutes to an aging star? That was part of the thinking in allowing Andre Miller to leave in free agency.
Iverson has never been one to make the players around him better. Even during '00-01, the opposite was true. Eric Snow, Aaron McKie, George Lynch, Tyrone Hill, Theo Ratliff and Dikembe Mutombo took care of the defense, rebounding, scratching and clawing, allowing Iverson to provide the offense. When word surfaced that Iverson could be joining the Bobcats, the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell turned to former Sixers president/general manager Billy King for perspective. Among other things, King said "Allen never made the people around him better in the first place, because it's always about Allen.''
King also told the Observer ''Everything is about Allen, and it can't all be about Allen at this point in his career. He's no longer that intimidating figure who can just blow by everybody. So he's got to do other things, and I'm not sure he will.''
And: "When Allen plays the point, nobody else touches the ball.''
That's not the type of player I would want mentoring my young guards.
I understand the deep loyalty of Iverson's fans. They sincerely love their guy. They will revel in someday seeing his jersey retired in the Wachovia Center. They miss the show. In a way, I do, too. He was a phenomenon, filling the arena the way no player ever had. I don't know why this particular memory has stayed with me, but I remember a night when the Daily News was celebrating the retirement of editor Zach Stallberg. I missed the arly portion of the party in town because I covered the Sixers game first. I paid my respects to Stallberg by laughingly saying ''In honor of you, Allen just dropped 60.''
Allen could do things like that.
The show, at some level, will go on, in Memphis or Charlotte or somewhere.
But not here. That time has come and gone.
Allen Iverson is the only player that took us to a championsip. Iggy-Pop sure ain't doing it anytime soon!- I personally think the saddest part of this whole deal is this: Alan doesn't (or maybe CAN'T) see why he is having so much trouble finding a team. Deep down I bet he thinks that everybody that passes on him is dumb, and doesn't deserve him anyway. He just does NOT get it.....never has, never will. But I loved watching him when he had a supporting cast. That first Finals game will stay with me a long time.— TBear
- be the3 backcourt leader...I missed the arly portion...ummm spell check or maybe hire an editor that can read...u guys make too much for us to read mistakes in almost every article....maybe u should practice more...— dsoul
- Iverson will always be loved by true Philadelphia Fans. plain and simple. It's a sin not to appreciate the guy for playing harder for us the fans than anyone in his generation. Long live THE ANSWER!— drumminge6
- the sixers are their own worse enemy..they have consistently made bad deals before during and after ai's time here. They finally had a chance to redeem themselves from that stupid Webber deal and instead of waiting for the right player, they signed Elton Brand who even if healthy did not fit this teams style, they gave Iggie way too much money for way too many years. They are now locked in with players who can't turn them into a contender and who no other teams wants to pay that much for. We need a general manager who can make the right moves— RUGGED76
- one of the most overrated players in the history of the game, no doubt he played hard when he felt like it...elite players are always referenced as " 5 tool " players which AI had, however he did not have tool number six, the space between the ears, the most important. Severe lacking of Basketball IQ and team concept.— eagles2010
- With the Phillies in the middle of pennant run and start of the Eagles season, you would think sports writers have something better to write about than the resurrection of AI. Would I reunite with my ex-wife?— jimidagreek
- Ty Hill, George Lynch, Aaron McKie, Eric Snow-they all did so much after they left A.I., but he didn't make them better? Theo Ratliff's last name has been changed to "Expiring Contract" but he wasn't better with Iverson? I'm not campaigning to bring Iverson back, but let's be honest about the never made teammates better claims. How does George karl avoid all criticism of the Denver defense before the Billups deal? And Super-Exec Joe Dumars basically admitted the Iverson deal was a 2009-10 salary dump/free up, so who can blame Iverson for not taking one for that team?
- The clamoring for Iverson and the fact he is actual leading in a current Philly.com poll shows me that Philly is not a NBA town because they fans are idiots when it comes to the NBA. Iverson would not make this team any better, or more enjoyable, and would do nothing but take valuable minutes away from younger players.— brannigan73
- Was this even on the table other than fans e-mailing about it - If so Stanfanski should be fired immediately— bsaw
- If you want to see IVERSON in 2000-2001 then GO OUT AND BUY THE DVD!!!!— phillygtown
- Bubbachuck.......what do we hav to lose? And GoPhils09 hit it on the head. This would probably be the most talented Sixer team A.I. would get to plat with. A team that w/o him can make the playoffs. With him we might steal a round or two. Who know? Only one way to find out. Bubbachuck!— XmarksTheSpot
- I think AI has one more run in him and I'm not a fan of the skinny kid who doesn't like to practice, (yah I said "practice")I think he might even win a title before he leaves becuse that's normally how it goes down in the NBA. Look at big Dawg left us won a championship, and he didn't even want to play when he was here.— rayzoe
hey, it wouldnt hurt anything. at least we can see a 40 point game here and there. with or without a.i., my sixers will stink this year.
AI is past his prime - on the downside - happens to all athletes some day and this is just his time. We need to thank him, respect him for what he brought to the city and move on. If you ask me, King should be judged as a far worse offender of our basketball sensibilites here in philly - that guy was just a flat out lousy GM.
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.
