Jordan meets with Iverson
Video addition: Just spoke with Eddie Jordan here in Dallas. Jordan said the meeting with Iverson was "intriguing," said he liked what he heard, and that Iverson would bring an aggressive scoring mentality. You can check out the first 90 seconds of Jordan's press conference in the Deep Sixer video player below on the right.
Jordan meets with Iverson
Video addition: Just spoke with Eddie Jordan here in Dallas. Jordan said the meeting with Iverson was "intriguing," said he liked what he heard, and that Iverson would bring an aggressive scoring mentality. You can check out the first 90 seconds of Jordan's press conference in the Deep Sixer video player below on the right.
Update: According to David Aldridge, Sixers management has given the basketball side the go-ahead to sign Iverson if it wants. Team owner Ed Snider has signed off on Iverson's return, if that's what the basketball side of things determines is best.
76ers head coach Eddie Jordan and General Manager Ed Stefanski met with Allen Iverson in Dallas early this afternoon, this according to a source close to the situation. The Sixers, very soon, should be releasing a statement to this effect.
Details about the meeting -- or Iverson's potential return to the Sixers -- are still being worked out, but it's confirmed that he's "not yet" -- not at this moment -- a Sixer. No decision is expected about Iverson before tonight's game.
Stefanski just released a statement about the meeting that said "At this time, both parties remain non-committal regarding a final decision and we will continue to discuss internally whether or not to pursue this course."
Stefanski confirmed the meeting included Tony DiLeo and Aaron McKie on the Sixers side and agent Leon Rose and manager Gary Moore on Iverson's side.
The Sixers are in Dallas for tonight's game against the Mavericks. Speculation had been swirling about the Sixers potential interest in the former all-star guard, who played 10-plus seasons with the Sixers before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2006.
Yesterday, Jordan said he had no plans to fly to Atlanta to meet with Iverson. Jordan also said "No, not that I know of," when asked if Iverson might come meet with the Sixers on a stop along this road trip.
Sometime between then and this afternoon, that changed. It's confirmed the Sixers are weighing their options at bringing in a free-agent guard since starting point guard Lou Williams had surgery on a broken jaw and will miss 8 weeks.
* If you want this info even quicker, follow on Twitter: Deep Sixer.
More to come.
--Kate
Why would AI sign here? It is way worse than the situation in Memphis. This team has no future at all for years and years.— JonKap- The same idiots who hate this idea are the same idiots who purchase Eagles gear and want Reid and McNabb gone. Hey MORONS: just like Donovan, HE TOOK US OUT OF THE BASEMENT AND ON TO CONSISTANT PLAYOFF APPEARANCES!!!!!! Maybe AI doesn't have what he used to but he will put people in the seats, balls in the hoop and electricity to a building that only has it with orange and black. SIGN HIM!!!— dr.elektrika
- Why is everyone so concerned about putting people in the seats? I find it hilarious that all these people keep using attendance as one of the reasons we should sign him. Why do all of you care if he sells tickets? Do you all work for the team? Are all of you part owners and your gonna get some of the money? Sorry to tell you all that your not getting any of the revenue that he generates by selling tickets so you can take that off your lists of ridiculous reasons why we should resign him.— philliekev04
- Nothing to lose. Sixers are horrible right now. I hear alot of dislike for this signing but it would seem that not too many people like this team the way it is at the moment anyway. Look at the attendence, and while your at it, look at their record. Heres the deal, TYoung will never be a superstar. Good, but no superstar. Same with Igoudala and Lou Williams. You win with stars in the NBA. Players who create matchup nightmares.....Sixers don't have those.— thebusiness
- I loved AI when he played here but I thought we were moving on and building around the young guys. But to win big in the NBA you have to have one of those stud superstars. Andre is an "A" player for sure but he's no Kobe, no Lebron. The season is in the tank anyway so why do anything to hurt our position in he upcoming draft? Let's just suck it up, let the young guys learn and avoid the sideshow; because that's what AI is now, a sideshow. Sad but true.— Trifecta
- Nice job on NBATV Kate-- go get AI. One year deal - -see how it goes -- team is boring and irrelevant - would not be surprised if Nova outdraws Sixers with no Iverson— buff1
- the 6ers should take a pass for many reason 1 he's a coack killer ask cheeks randy ayres chris ford the list goes on & on 2nd he not a leader to help young players example john salmons who plays for chicago now . Salmons was suppose to be the guard to play with A.I & what happen he had a bad game against ATL & instead of helping the guy out he laughed at him put him down & he lost confidence & he didnt play a game for us again now salmons is averging doubles figures in scoring & would have been a nice fit here but NOOOO A.I runs him out of town if they resign him what happens to spieghts & holidays delvelopment ?— scrap32
Comment removed.- Sixer personnel have totally lost it for even considering an Iverson return. They will lose more games with than without him. I think Ed Snider should step away from day to day operations of both the Flyers and Sixers. Bringing back Iverson is ANOTHER black eye to the Sixers and city of Philadelphia, & a TOTAL embarrassment to Philly Sports. The franchise has made numerous monumental mistakes over the years when it comes to drafting, free agent signings, & trades ... Jeff Ruland, Shawn Bradley, Sammy Dalembert, Elton Brand, Glenn Robinson, etc ... We need better basketball people running this organization ... Someone who will be patient and let existing talent develop, sign the right free agents and let go of certain in-house talent instead of overpaying for them, & lastly make creative trades or signings for betterment of short and long-term.— lostfaithincoach
- Anyone who thinks signing Iverson,which will happen,is a basketball decision is nuts on a number of levels.There is no way that Stefanski and Jordan want him, any more than any other coach or GM in the NBA wants him. Comcast-Spectacor and Brian Roberts want him. Read the business section, in particular this part today: "GE reportedly will pay Vivendi $5.8 billion for its stake in NBC Universal, which values the entire NBC Universal enterprise at about $29 billion, the New York Times reported last night. Comcast is expected to pay about $6 billion in cash and contribute programming assets to NBC Universal for a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal. During the next seven or eight years, Comcast is expected to purchase the remaining ownership of NBC Universal - or the other 49 percent - from General Electric. Comcast says it will use the cash flow from the NBC Universal to purchase the remaining ownership, as well as pay off debt on NBC Universal. But Comcast has said it would guarantee that it would have the money for the other 49 percent through a "back-stop" fund." Comcast chief executive Brian Roberts has repeatedly expressed an interest in controlling a big entertainment programmer and previously made an unsolicited bid for the Walt Disney Co., which failed. Comcast wants NBC Universal largely for its lucrative cable channels. NBC Universal spans the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks; cable channels such as Bravo and CNBC; the Universal Pictures movie studio; and Universal theme parks." Comcast needs Iverson and fans in the seats in order to make the team more attractive to potential buyers, either here or, more likely,in Las Vegas,to cut its losses. They may also sell the Flyers and help Snider into retirement. David Stern will express regret at the loss of the Sixers, but will let the sale take place. If the NJ Nets get 1st pick in the draft and two top free agents, they will drop the Brooklyn deal and its legal problems and move to Philly. Stern will agree.— chuckw
It's not basketball, it's a circus, but Philly deserves this guy.
Keith Pompey has been an Inquirer reporter since September 2004. He takes over the Sixers beat after covering the Temple men’s basketball team for the past three years and Temple football the past two seasons. Pompey also previously covered the Penn and Drexel men’s basketball team and Villanova football team after initially focusing on high school sports.
Pompey is a native Philadelphian and a University of Pittsburgh. Follow him on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers or reach Keith at kpompey@phillynews.com.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
