No more questions........We already knew The Answer

When we look back at the career of Allen Iverson, what will we say: NBA Legend? Rebel? Cultural Icon? Thug? Misunderstood? or Troublesome?! Like most things in life, we have never been able to look at Iverson purely in black & white. He was all those things, and all of those things are what made up his story. Pound for pound arguably the greatest player of his generation and of all time. On March 2, 2014 during halftime of the Sixers Vs. Wizards game (I cant believe I wasn't at this game.....gotdammit!) a ceremony was held to retire Iverson's #3 and raise the banner to rafters to hang alongside other NBA/Sixer legends such as Julius Earvin, Charles Barkley, Moses Malone & Maurice Cheeks.  The notorious Philly fans never fail to show Iverson just how much they love him, as the crowd was in a frenzy to honor "Bubba Chuck".  In a heartfelt speech, Allen thanked not only those that praised him, but also those that challenged him to grow as a player but also challenged him to grow as a man. Whatever Iverson has lacked in eloquence, he always makes up for it with pure honesty and emotion in his words.  Yes, his troubles have been documented ("we talking about practice"....one of the greatest clips ever), and it could be argued that his retirement is less about his ability to play and more about his ability to play a prescribed role on a team.  I for one would have loved to see A.I. retire on his own terms, because before I even became a fan of that skinny kid from Philly with the Jordan obsession, I was Team Answer all day.....everyday!!  But I don't want to lament the missed opportunities or what went wrong in his career that led to this nite. I'd rather step back and examine his brilliance on the court & cultural impact.


6'0ft./165lbs.......and absolutely one of the most terrifying players on the court if you are an opposing coach or the unlucky bastid with the assignment to guard him. Yeah there had been other players just as small or even smaller than AI, but very few if any were as lethal on the court as he was. To my recollection the nearest player you could harken back to was Isiah Thomas. Of course early on his career, he was labeled selfish and Charles Barkley affectionately called him "Me, Myself and I-verson".  But to be fair, most players that are that talented at scoring do have to endure a learning curve in keeping teammates involved in the offense.  Let's be real......there was a reason the defense was leaving Eric Snow open! In a league where big guards dominated, Iverson dominated them, scoring in every way imaginable: Drives, jumpers, floaters, the infamous crossover.....and if he caught you sleeping, you could find yourself beneath him and the rim, just ask Marcus Camby.  

Even the GOAT Michael Jordan got touched during Iverson's rookie year. Caught in a switch at the top of the key, Iverson didn't flinch as he gave MJ a mini-crossover and Mike bit. So bringing the ball and letting MJ square up again......he hit him again, but this time with the full crossover, leaving MJ swinging at ghosts as AI pulls up and hits the jumper. What!?....he did what to who? Who the hell does he think he is?! You don't do that to Jordan! Well......he did! This served notice that no one was safe and a new generation was upon us. (Sidebar: In no time the NBA outlawed the "crossover" and refs would start making the traveling call against players that used it.) Among the records that he holds are the Most Consecutive 40Pt or More Games by a Rookie with 5, Most Points in a 5 Game Playoff Series at 178, Most Steals in a Playoff with 10, as well as the Most Seasons Leading the League in Steals at 3.  His performance during Game 5 Vs. Vince Carter and the Raptors, after accepting the MVP award was nothing short of breathtaking. 52 points he put up, in what was his second 50pt performance of the series. When I say he was cooking the Raptors, I mean he flame broiled their azzes! Getting buckets, playing the passing lanes for steals, dishing out dimes....it was a virtuoso performance to remember. Allen Iverson 52pts vs Raptors;  http://youtu.be/JM4551c-bCQ
 Quite frankly there was just no answer for The Answer! Despite his small frame, he continually went in their with the big boys. Taking every hit, hard foul and flagrant fouls that would make those of lesser fortitude shy away from the lane and get jumper happy. But not Iverson. Here he comes again, going right back in there for more and taking what he wants. Fearless.  His list of injuries read like a medical journal, and yet he still played every night, hell bent on giving the fans their money's worth.  Despite how the average fan felt about his personal choices or appearance, his heart and tenacity almost always won over new fans and added to his following.



Let it not be lost on the unindoctrinated and Iverson was also the harbinger of a new generation and cultural movement. At the time of his entry into the league, it was still Jordan's league and he set the standard by which a superstar would present himself publically and as a brand.  As much as we still loved Jordan, MJ was essentially like watching our father's on the basketball court, minus the black socks, in terms of sensibilities. I think back to an interview after a hard fought game, and the reporter asked Jordan to tell them the name of the song that he was listening to that inspired, and he said Anita Baker "Giving You The Best That I Got".  What the hell?!!? Granted....I absolutely love, love, love Anita Baker, but he clearly showed his age with that singular comment. Hell, that's music my mom's put on to clean the house, not go off for 45pts and dunk in somebodies face! The generation that grew up on hip hop were searching for our new heroes that reflected our lifestyle, values and energy.  Enter: Allen Iverson.  It wouldn't be long before Jordan would have to retire, and the NBA was constantly in a scramble to anoint the "Air Apparent".  There was Harold Miner "Baby Jordan"....whose game never got out of the toddler stage. Penny Hardaway, god bless him, his health became an issue and his incredible game suffered. As well as Grant Hill, the Duke graduate, clean cut and a PR team dream, but again here comes that injury bug.  Kobe Bryant, who had the greatest potential and was on the right track, but his later life decisions derailed him completely taking over the NBA.  Iverson didn't walk, talk or dress like any before him. The baggy clothes, the jewelry, tattoos.....hell even his cornrows debut during the All Star Weekend Rookie Game garnered criticisms.   

While David Stern will go down as the greatest Commissioner of his generation, he completely dropped the ball by not embracing what Iverson was bringing to the table.  At the time, it could be argued that Iverson was the most popular player in the league, and jersey sales would confirm that. We aren't talking just a ghetto fab celeb that all the inner city kids looked up to as an idol, we are talking White, Latin, Asian etc.  Again, this was the hip hop generation and the music had already permeated thru the suburbs, so these kids were also being influenced by the Tupacs, Biggie and WuTangs of the world.  Iverson with his tattoos was labeled a thug, now you can hardly find any player in ANY league without tats. AI would come to arena in something that he looked  like he just rolled out of bed and grabbed, as opposed to the tailored suits of other players. Neck blazed in ice and white gold....diamond rocks in both ears, doo rag and baseball cap. Don't believe he started a revolution......name a player before him that did it! Everything Iverson did (or got away with, depending on who you ask) his peers followed. Those sleeves you see everyone wearing now.....Iverson. Next time a game is on, I want you to note all of the #3 jerseys playing. He was damn near counterculture......and we loved him for it.  He talked our talk, walked our walk.  We even got a song out of him, which by NBA standards and hip hop standards was pretty damn good (40 Bars).  Eventually David Stern felt forced to adopt a strict dresscode for players to protect those big dollar and investment interests. Can't go scaring the conservatives with all these black dudes dressed like Mobb Deep.  The commercials, the sneakers....he was the next in every way. Other players they tried to crown either couldn't play or they could play but didn't have the marketability.  Iverson was the total package.  And the crossover?!!....oh my good the crossover!!  Granted the move wasn't new, and I for one believe that Tim Hardaway had the superior crossover move but this was a movement on the basketball court at the time of A.I. You would have thought the move had just been invented by the amount of kids on the court practicing that one move. Kid can't shoot for shit, but he would have a crossover. Watching an NBA game, as Iverson would prepare to unleash it, you could hear the crowd take collective breath and hold it, ready for the destruction that would befall the defender's ankles.  It could be argued that his popularity led to the creation of the And 1 league and the thirst for streetballers as they traveled the country putting on exhibitions. His impact is undeniable.

We not talking about a game......hell, we not even talking about practice......we are talking about retirement. And while his legacy will forever be debated, the fact that it is debatable shows just how much of a mark he left on the game and our consciousness.  Like I said, the questions are done......we already knew The Answer.