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.
The 51% who vote to bring AI back in your poll should be euthenized, or at least castrated.— Klambake
actually, AI deserves a better basketball team that has a chance to win something. he MADE the sixers in the late 90's and early 00's. even tho i think he wouldnt make our team better, calling him a loser when all he did was make his sixers team one of the most popular teams in the WORLD. stop hating. he's no Michael Jordan but he was our best player since barkley and any player on this team now couldnt hold ai's jock strap.- I suggested this yesterday. Jrue Holiday is 19. You CANNOT compare Billups and Iverson, it depends on what the team needs depending on worth. No way Billups takes the '01 sixers to the finals. Iverson could still contribute to this team. I cannot stand people quoting Billy King...why does he have any credibility with the bogus contracts he's offered. If he knew this about Iverson, and he cared about the game as much as Phil Jasner does, playin ball the right way, you would've done whatever yo ucould to get rid of him with his prime worth...but you're a hypocrite Billy King...and you too Jasner. Please, Lou Williams is a "C-"...I'd still take Iverson over him any day.— AHash
- AI should go to Europe. They would offer him a huge contract and he would be a tremedous star. I don't know if he can change his style for international basketball but the arenas would be filled every night. His family may not want it and it could hurt his shoe sales. Still I think it would be a tremedous experience for him.— Drew777
- The Nuggets did improve with Billips...and Hilario and Anderson and a healthy Camby. Iverson's stats were the best of his sure fire first ballot hall of fame career in his second year with Denver. And they were almost as good in his first year there. Things with Detrtoit didn't work out, but we all saw that coming. Iverson with Hamilton and Prince- not a good mix. On the other hand, Iverson with Iguodala, Young, Brand and Dalembert sounds like a good mix. Perhaps Brand and Iverson isn't the best combo with Brand at his best, but at this stage, Brand should welcome all the help he can get. Making others better is nonsense talk. Taking pressure off of them so that they have simpler tasks is really what it is about (ever played basketball?). Iverson definitely does that. He would be the best offensive player on the team from day 1 and his presence would vault the Sixers into title contention.— incog69
- The only reason that I voted for yes for bringing him back was the attendance. I personally dont think he is right for this team, but wow there is going to be 8,000 people a night at the arena this year, even if they win more than 40 games. This city just doesnt care about the Sixers anymore.— ktdb05
Comment removed.- where were the phil jasner's and others comments when allen iverson was here and he was demonstrating the same behaviors that were obvious. this is nothing new but now the media is taking their shot at standing up well after this topic has already died. thumbs down to jasner and others for trying to have some guts years after allen has departed philly. shame on you jasner! show me your columns during his stint here in philly. outside of eskin, who's too passionate about allen, no one else showed any courage.— dallas98
- Maybe he could teach the team how to play with 120% energy all of the time instead of a steady 75%.— Bex
- Really? You're going to recycle anti-Iverson overlay graphics from ESPN playoff coverage to make a some tired cherry picked points that have been pounded ad nauseam for years? How long did you spend on this? Couldn't you've just copy pasted from adrian wojnarowski (any article in the past decade)? You could at least throw some stats in, or allow that there might be a case for AI still having something left in the tank, that maybe those who still believe in him kinda have more to go on than "memories?" Philly.com! This isn't a blog. It reads more like an article pitch that got rejected by the print editor. The author doesn't like AI's style of play. Fine. Clearly, considering use of "they", also not a sixers fan. I guess that's fine too. But then stick to articles and stop pretending to be a blogger.— eboaz
- I didn't even see this was you, Jasner. I figured it was the newbie. I'd think you would at least have some gratitude for the guy making you relevant by proximity for a few years. At least figure you could come up with something more nuanced than this. If you don't want to post to the blog, just tell the editors, man. You touched off the "practice!" Presser, they owe you a break. By the way, if you google your name, practice and iverson, a link comes up on page one for your piece from May 2001: "Sixers Follow Heroic Lead Set by Iverson"— eboaz
- Phil, he never made 'em better? Your lede: "Sixers Follow Heroic Lead Set by Iverson". If only for the Sixers to grow some guts, it would be worth a year of AI. http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/Sixers_follow_heroic_lead_set_by_Iverson.html— eboaz
- Hahaha. Using a Billy King quote for support. Hahahaha. You're just as big a clown as he is.— scurf
- AI and Vick...two nice young fellows from southern VA chillin in Philly!! hehe— duuuuude
- Comment removed.
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.
