There was a time when the league needed Iverson, but it has passed. Back in 2000, an era of Laker dominance was imminent. The league hadn't quite recovered from the '99 lockout and Jordan's true exit. Then the void was filled.
A little guard in Philly was entering his prime. A guy with more swagger than the rest of the league combined. Scoring was no problem for the former number one overall pick, but he had yet to lead a team to success. Then with all eyes on him, his time came.
The 2000-2001 season will not be remembered for a Lakers championship or the year the Wizards infamously chose Kwame Brown. It's simply the year of The Answer. Iverson carried the Sixers on his 6-foot frame all the way to the NBA Finals, winning the MVP and scoring title on the way. His dozens of tattoos and accessories were unseen. His volatile demeanor was intriguing. And even the no-nonsense NBA experts of old couldn't deny Iverson's game.
For the next five years Iverson was a top-five player in the league. He topped jersey sales and all-star voting over this time, but the Sixers could never taste the same success they had in 2001. Following a fallout in Philly, Iverson finished his prime in Denver, before forgettable stints at the end in Detroit, Memphis and a final act in Philadelphia.
Nowadays, Iverson's got nothing to prove. He's beloved once again in Philly, right next to Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlain and Dr. J on the Sixers Mount Rushmore. So why come back in a league that's completely different from the one he dominated? That just doesn't seem like his style.
Just think. Allen Iverson, a 6-foot, 165 pound guy is sixth all time in PPG, ahead of guys like Kobe and Oscar, Kareem and Bird. Imagine if his come-up was during our era of social media. It would've made Linsanity look like a blip on the Twitter radar.
He may have been talking about practice, but Iverson sure as hell isn't talking the D-League anytime soon.
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