Multiple NBA sources say Allen Iverson is facing alcohol and gambling issues that have derailed his career and threaten his post-basketball well being, Stephen A. Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports in a column published today. Allen Iverson played only 25 games for the 76ers before stepping away for the season. According to multiple NBA sources, there is widespread concern that the four-time NBA scoring champion, who left the Philadelphia 76ers in February to deal with his 4 year old daughter's illness and will not return this season, "will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away," Smith reported. Iverson's gambling problem is serious enough that he has been banished from casinos in Detroit and Atlantic City, N.J., according to Smith.
Iverson's wife Tawana filed for divorce on March 4, the same day the Philadelphia 76ers announced that the All-Star guard would not return for the rest of the season. In the divorce filing, made at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta, Tawana Iverson said the couple's 8½-year marriage is "irretrievably broken" and sought full custody of the family's five children, child support and alimony.
The ankle injury that has sidelined Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant for the last three games will knock him out of Sunday's All-Star Game as well. The NBA has lined up Jason Kidd of the hometown Dallas Mavericks to replace the ailing Bryant, sources told ESPN.com. ESPN.com has also learned Allen Iverson won't participate (personal matters) and will be replaced by New York's David Lee. Bryant has played through back, finger and groin ailments this season but has not been able to shake an ankle problem that forced him to miss a game through injury for the first time since late in the 2005-06 season.
Dust off the No. 3 jersey. Allen Iverson is a Philadelphia 76er again. Sixers president Ed Stefanski announced the signing today on the team's Web site. Iverson is expected to make his debut Monday at home against the Denver Nuggets. The 34 year old Iverson announced his retirement last week after an ill-fated stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. The 10 time All-Star was NBA MVP in 2001 when he led the Sixers to the NBA finals.
"We had, at times, a rocky road with Allen Iverson, but we also had a fantastic run with Allen," Peter Luukko, COO of Comcast-Spectacor, which owns the 76ers and Flyers, told The Associated Press. "The expectations with Allen have changed dramatically. We're not looking for Allen to individually lead this team the way he has in the past."
Iverson was offered a one year, non-guaranteed contract on , according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract talks had not been made public. The Sixers would owe just under $650,000 if they guarantee his contract for the remainder of the season on Jan. 10. Stefanski plans to talk about Iverson's return in a noon teleconference.
The Philadelphia 76ers have reconsidered their stance about bringing back franchise icon Allen Iverson and are weighing the merits of signing him, but team sources told ESPN.com today that Iverson's return is not a certainty and that no face-to-face meetings between Iverson and anyone from the franchise have been scheduled. The sources said Iverson is just one of the free agent guards Philadelphia is considering since losing Lou Williams for eight weeks because of a broken jaw, but he jumped to the top of their list for several reasons; the severity of Williams' injury, the fact that Iverson's agent reached out to the 76ers asking for a second chance, and his box office appeal.
"We discussed him like we would any free agent, but we understand he's not just any free agent," one source told ESPN.com. "Are we thinking about it? Yes. But it hasn't gone beyond that."
Allen Iverson is set to retire from the NBA, according to an online report. Commentator Stephen A. Smith published a statement on his Web site Wednesday attributed to Iverson. It said Iverson plans to retire but also that "I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level."
The 10-time All-Star played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways. It was the second straight ugly ending for Iverson, who was unhappy last season playing for the Pistons. He was upset that Detroit coach Michael Curry and Memphis' Lionel Hollins used the former MVP as a reserve.
Allen Iverson wants to prove he's not finished yet. The Memphis Grizzlies want to rev up the rebuilding process with a young roster. That is why the 34-year-old Iverson signed a one-year contract today with a team that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2006 and has never won a postseason game. The Grizzlies are coming off a 24-58 season that tied for fifth-worst in the NBA.
"This year for me is so personal," Iverson said."It's basically going to be my rookie season again. It hurts, but I turn the TV on, I read the paper, I listen to some of the things people say about me having the season that I had last year and me losing a step, things like that. They're trying to put me in a rocking chair already."
The Grizzlies announced they had signed the former NBA MVP and 10-time All Star this morning, minutes before Iverson was introduced at a news conference. The 13-year veteran was welcomed with a standing ovation in an atmosphere that felt like a pep rally, with fans in the lobby of the FedExForum.
I was thinking about this today so I had to post when A.I. crossed the hell out of Antonio Daniels.. Damn he didn't even let him get up before he crossed him again. Hahaha.
Before they commit to Allen Iverson for one year, the Los Angeles Clippers want to look him in the eye and ask him about coming off the bench.Iverson's answer, if the meeting happens, will go a long way toward determining whether "The Answer" will land in Los Angeles for a one-year contract for the midlevel exception of $5.8 million. Sources told ESPN.com Tuesday that Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, was traveling to Las Vegas to arrange a meeting with the Clippers as the next step in the process of finding a new home for Iverson, the former MVP and four-time scoring champion who is an unrestricted free agent.
Get ready for the millions of bandwagon Clippers fans!
