Allen Iverson to retire from NBA

[giljr]

He is playing in China Team. I think he didn't retire as a player in the NBA. He is still a free agent but wants a big role in a team that's why no team would accept him. He is a good player before but there are more good players now than he is.

[Levenspiel]

He is playing in China Team.

Are you sure?

[sinobball]

AI sighting

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/04/07/georgia.iverson.police/index.html?hpt=P1&iref=NS1

Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- Former NBA star Allen Iverson launched an expletive-ridden tirade against police when a car belonging to him was pulled over for a traffic violation last week, at one point telling the officer, "Take the vehicle, I have 10 more," according to a police report.

Iverson, 35, was a passenger in a grey Lamborghini, spied by an Atlanta officer changing lanes without signaling about 6 p.m. on March 30, according to the police report obtained by CNN.

The driver, identified in the report as Antwuan Clisby, couldn't produce any documentation for the vehicle, the report said. He then told the officer his passenger needed to leave the vehicle to eat dinner, and the officer said no one was leaving until the investigation was complete.

With that, Iverson became "irate," according to the police report, saying, "I'm the (expletive) passenger." The officer radioed for backup, and a second unit arrived, according to the report. Clisby and Iverson were asked to exit the vehicle, while Iverson continued to curse at the officer, the report said.

When police scanned the identification number of the vehicle, which belongs to Iverson, it was found to have tags that expired in 2009. Iverson, former MVP for the Philadelphia 76ers, was told his car would be towed.

"Take the vehicle, I have 10 more," Iverson said, according to the report. "Police don't have anything else (expletive) to do except (expletive) with me." He then asked, "Do you know who I am?"

The officer wrote in his report that "For the next 20 minutes, Mr. Iverson went on and on about who he was. I stated to Mr. Iverson, 'It really doesn't matter who you are. You tried to conceal your vehicle with a fake drive-out tag due to you not paying for your tags.' "

Iverson then said, "I make more money than you will in 10 years," according to the report.

Clisby, the driver, asked the officers, "Would you want to pay $10,000 for a tag?" the report said.

The car was towed, and Iverson later "came back and apologized for disrespecting the police," according to the police report. "He stated he was just upset about his car."

Clisby was cited for failure to signal while changing lanes and the expired tag, the report said.

[mvblair]

Geez. That's terrible. You know you're a big @$$%#@& when you pull out the "do you know who I am" stuff. Or the "I make more than you make" stuff.

[CKR13]

FLASHBACK: 10 Years Ago

10 years ago, Allen Iverson was named the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player. Ten Years later, Iverson is rumored to be nearing bankruptcy.

Truly, we do not know what the years may bring. Honestly, 10 years ago I though Iverson will retire as a Sixer, but I was wrong as six years later Iverson would be traded to the Nuggets then head to Detroit. Make a quick stop at Memphis and sign back with the Sixers subsequently.

[CKR13]

Iverson eyeing NBA return

Iverson: 'I want to finish my career in the NBA'

[Stalonecobra]

So is there anything of Iverson coming back to the NBA? I would like to see Iverson to be the 6th man of Chicago!

[Jeffie]

Keyword is "want".. He wants to come back but he cannot survive a day playing as a "Role Player"..

Hall-of-Fame Legends like Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, and Hakeem Olajuwon, during the twilight of their careers, accepted their role as non-stars of the team. They focused on mentoring young teammates and providing locker room motivation. Since AI has an ego & attitude as bad as he wants to be, he can never play effectively again in the NBA. His height and now-mediocre defense doesn't really help his cause as well.

I liked his performances during his prime, but there is just too much baggage any NBA team would have to burden if they sign him.

Try playing in the PBA instead, AI. You'll be welcomed like a rockstar, and you'll play 48 minutes-a-game as an import. The competition is a lot weaker, but you only want the fame and stardom, don't you? So that'll do.

[Stalonecobra]

I think that AI is just what missed for Chigaco on last season. A man to score when the pressure comes. Rose is a great player but still young in my view. I think that the pressure of making the shots when the tension was really big was too much for him.

[Jeffie]

I think that AI is just what missed for Chigaco on last season. A man to score when the pressure comes. Rose is a great player but still young in my view. I think that the pressure of making the shots when the tension was really big was too much for him.

Allen Iverson will not fit into the Bulls' style of play. They are defensive-minded, and Iverson is not. The Bulls just need to teach Ronnie Brewer some moves, and he can be the "missing link" of a scoring SG. Iverson can take a walk.

[CAREY33]

Allen Iverson will not fit into the Bulls' style of play. They are defensive-minded, and Iverson is not. The Bulls just need to teach Ronnie Brewer some moves, and he can be the "missing link" of a scoring SG. Iverson can take a walk.

This is totall correct. AI dominates the ball too much to play for the Bulls, plus he never really liked to play defense.

[Khalid80]

Iverson wants last shot at NBA
By Marc J. Spears

It doesn’t matter if it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves – or any of the NBA’s other basement dwellers. Allen Iverson(notes) will take your call. If you’re an NBA team and you have a spot open on your roster, Iverson is willing to talk.

“I’ll play for anybody,” Iverson told Yahoo! Sports.

A 10-time All-Star and former MVP, Iverson still wants back in the league even though he’s 36 and played only in Turkey last season. He’s one of the game’s greatest scorers, but his history of off-the-court drama and issues with coaches tainted his career, even in his last few seasons in the NBA. He complained about his role with the Detroit Pistons and griped about coming off the bench with the Memphis Grizzlies. Iverson took a leave of absence after playing three games with the Grizzlies two seasons ago and was eventually waived. That led him to announce his retirement – but a couple weeks later he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Iverson ended up leaving the Sixers to spend time with his ill daughter, and he was eventually waived. He now says he was too distracted by his daughter’s health issues and divorce proceedings with his wife to stay focused in his last two NBA seasons.

“That wasn’t me at all,” Iverson said. “Obviously, I was dealing with the situation with my daughter and going through a divorce, and I wasn’t there mentally. In my career those last couple years were so hard for me because I wasn’t there. Mentally, I wasn’t there.

“During those 48 minutes on the basketball court, all I [ever] cared about was that time right there. Nothing else distracted me. But at times, I felt myself standing on the court just thinking about my daughter, thinking about the situation with me and my wife. I wasn’t giving [the teams] everything I had mentally.”

[Related: Former NBA players who have gone broke]

So what’s the difference now?

“Everything is fine,” Iverson said. [My wife and I] are still going through the process. But it’s not like it was. … I just felt like the right thing – even if it’s not me and her [together] – we got to be friends and cool with each other because we got five kids together. That was the most difficult part. And then once I got to there, as far as that situation, then everything was basically cool. My kids are healthy. I don’t have anything to worry about but basketball.”

Multiple reports within the past couple years said Iverson has been troubled by financial, alcohol and gambling issues. He admitted there was some truth to his personal problems but declined to go into detail, saying it “would take all day” to explain what wasn’t true.

“There are going to be people out there that say things,” Iverson said. “But it’s the same thing I teach my kids: ‘If it’s not true, why do you worry about it?’ It bothers me at times because I do have a heart, and my kids do have to hear some of those things. But that’s the only time it bothers me. I’m used to people saying a bunch of things about me that are not true.”

After no NBA team showed interest in signing him last season, Iverson agreed to a two-year, $4 million deal contract with Turkish team Besiktas. He returned to the United States shortly into the season because of a right calf injury and never returned to Turkey.

Iverson says he has no serious offers from any teams overseas right now. He added that playing overseas also gave him a stronger appreciation for the NBA since it took him away from his family and “the highest level [of basketball] in the world.” He also says he’ll be willing to come off the bench and a reserve role even “makes it easier for me.”

“Obviously, they might have some issues thinking I don’t want to help a team in a certain capacity,” Iverson said. “But that’s over with. All that was going on through an emotional time. It cost me to not play. I’m just willing to help any squad in any capacity.

[Related: Dr. J selling personal trophies, other memorabilia]

“Hopefully, one squad will believe in me and we will go from there. That would be a lot better than having to go overseas.”

Iverson says he’s completely healthy and can be in NBA shape in two weeks. He is hoping to show he can still play on an NBA level when he hosts his Las Vegas Superstar Challenge on Nov. 12-13.

Iverson will be one of four captains putting a team together in the four-team tournament. The winners of the two games on Nov. 12 will play in a championship game the next day. He announced Wednesday his stacked team is expected to include Kevin Durant(notes), Amar’e Stoudemire(notes), Paul Pierce(notes), Joe Johnson(notes), Zach Randolph(notes), Andre Iguodala(notes), Rudy Gay(notes), Jamal Crawford(notes), Thaddeus Young(notes), Shannon Brown(notes) and former NBA player Larry Hughes(notes). Other players expected to participate – provided the lockout isn’t over and players aren’t having to report to camp – include Monta Ellis(notes), Jimmer Fredette(notes), Stephen Jackson(notes), David Lee(notes), James Harden(notes), Tyreke Evans(notes), Derrick Williams(notes), Al Harrington(notes), Kemba Walker(notes) and Klay Thompson(notes).

“I wanted organizations to see me play and see what I can do on a high level against high-level people,” Iverson said.

Iverson’s accomplishments on the court merit his inclusion in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He’d just like to put one final stamp on his legacy that isn’t drenched in drama.

“It’s not where I want it to be,” Iverson said of his career. “When it does end, it’s going to end on a much better note than this right here. This is not the way it’s going to end. Even if I do have to go overseas to play in a competitive situation, it’s not going to end like this.

“I’m not going to let it end like this, and I don’t want it to end like this. My first step is doing everything I have to do to get back to that [NBA] level. But if that’s something that God doesn’t want from me, then that’s that.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-spears_allen_iverson_102611

[Servinio]

THROWBACK THURSDAY (this article was written way back in 2000)



Allen Iverson began his pro career on a high note as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft out of Georgetown University by the Philadelphia 76ers. He received the distinction of being the shortest player (6’0”) and the first guard (since Magic Johnson in 1979) to be selected first in the draft with a college resume that includes being named Big East Defensive Player of the Year in his two season as well as an Associated Press First Team All-American after averaging 25.0 points per game in his sophomore year, so what could go wrong? To have a better understanding into the player known for his ankle-breaking crossover dribble, a look into the one-time Manila visitor’s past is necessary. READ MORE