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.
Sad. I always thought a knee injury would be the end of him...not so. He is essentially black balled b/c of his behavior and work ethic. I was the biggest Iverson fan, watching him ascent through the scoring ranks, being amazed by what the little guy could do with heart. 50, 60 point games...he was electric. And just like that, nobody wants him. Flat out sad, but he did it to himself.— bigguy34- The Sixers should never reite Iversons jersey? For what? being a ball hog, chucker?!?— ChangeISNeeded
- The Sixers should never retire Iversons jersey? For what? being a ball hog, chucker?!?— ChangeISNeeded
- You're probably right Phil, but you can't blame people for wanting to recapture the excitement AI brought to the team in his prime. Going to the games now, in half full building floating in a wasteland of mediocrity leaves much to be desired.— billerific
- Bringing back Iverson for a one year deal would help this team. Remember Iverson is playing for one more deal before he calls it quits. This upcoming season Iverson will be motivated to play and doing so for his old team would be awesome. It will put people in the seats and ultimately make the team better. The Sixers aren't going deep into the playoffs with this squad. We are good enough to make the playoffs and then lose in the first round. Lets not kid ourselves about this. They have done this the past two years. Are you comfortable with having Lou Williams run the point?— pdditty
Comment removed.- He was a lot of fun to watch back in the day, but he's a horrible guy to have on your team now. The aftermath of the Billips trade says it all.— Vituperator
- Why add a punk and a non-team player to bring everyone down?— Voytas
- I wish this team was more entertaining but AI is not he answer. His time has come and passed, his game has not progressed. At his peak he was incredible, unfortunately over time his true character has been revealed and I hate to say it, but I think he's a loser.— VOR
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- It will be a disaster for Allen's career if he isn't signed somewhere before training camp. I at least hope he gets a chance to show that he can still contribute on another team's terms. It's sad that might not happen -- shocking really.— jimmy76er
- I hope he saved enouugh of the zillions he made and didn't blow it all on his family, cars and keeping it real. Because huge NBA paycheck time has passed for 'money bagz'. His time was great here but it's over and done. Agree, this year's a wash for the 76ers while they wait for a couple onerous King deals to come off the books. Sayanara, Sammy. They need the big lottery prize in the worst way and they may well be bad enough to get there.— PhillySubsMac
- This teams reeks. Lame coach, junk lineup. Not that I want AI back, but it's not like the team can do any worse. They are putrid and will be for a long time- they are nowhere near the caliber of Boston, Orlando, and Chicago. In a city steeped in basketball tradition, the Sixers are an embarrassment.— BananaHammock
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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.
