76ers happy Iverson goes into Hall of Fame

None of the 76ers were surprised that Allen Iverson was elected Monday morning to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"Who else was going to be in there?" Nerlens Noel said following Monday's practice. "He's one of the greatest ever to do it, especially as a 6-foot guard in the NBA and the way he was able to put on a show night in and night out.

"He was Philadelphia's greatest. I think he was more than deserving."

Iverson joins Darrell Garretson, Shaquille O'Neal, Sherryl Swoopes, John McLendon, Tom Izzo, Zelmo Beaty, Yao Ming, Cumberland Posey and Jerry Reinsdorf in the Class of 2016.

The class will be enshrined at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 9.

Iverson was 2001 NBA MVP, an 11-time all-star and three-time all-NBA first-team selection. He played with the Sixers from 1996 to 2006 and during the 2009-10 season. Iverson also had stints with the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies during his NBA career. Iverson briefly played for Besiktas Milangaz of the Turkish Basketball League in 2010-11.

During his 14 NBA seasons, Iverson averaged 26.7 points and 6.2 assists per game. He led the league in scoring four times.

"He's just hardcore Philly to me," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. "And he's hardcore Philly to our players when you look at the spirit of how he played and how reckless he played. . . . When you talk about his feel, his approach to any aspect to how he played and the way carried him himself, you would say that is a warrior."

Elton Brand refers to Iverson as pound-for-pound one of the best to play the game. However, he learned just how popular the 6-foot (actually 5-11), 165-pounder was during a road game in Sacramento while they were teammates in the 2009-10 season.

"All these little girls were screaming my name, and I was in the layup line," Brand recalls. "I'm like I'm popular in Sacramento, and I look at a little girl, and I kind of wave, and she's like, 'No, not you, Allen. Not Elton, Allen!' That's just how probably he was back then."

Meanwhile, for Ish Smith, Iverson's dribbling skills were something he emulated while growing in the Charlotte area.

The point guard cut out a sock and wore it on one of his arms in honor of Iverson, who worm an arm sleeve due to having bursitis.

Smith said Hall of Famer Michael Jordan was his favorite player with another Hall of Famer, Isiah Thomas, second.

"But AI is right up there, too," Smith said. "It's not surprising to me [that he was elected.] He's well deserving, and I'm very happy for him."

kpompey@phillynews.com

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