Allen Iverson To Officially Announce Retirement

blastman · 08-21-2013, 03:44 PM

Not that this really means a whole lot, but does he have to officially retire in order for the HOF clock to start ticking? Anyone that says he won't be in the HOF, please exit this thread immediately

SLAM ONLINE | » Allen Iverson to Officially Retire (BREAKING)

Quote:

Allen Iverson is prepared to officially announce his retirement from the NBA in the coming days, a source close to the native of Virginia told SLAM.

Iverson, 38, played his last professional basketball in Turkey in 2011. Before that, he appeared in his final NBA game, as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, in 2010.

When he last spoke publicly, at a Sixers game on March 30, Iverson answered a question about continuing his career by saying, “My No. 1 goal is trying to accomplish to be the best dad that I can. And if basketball is in my near future, then God will make that happen. But if not, I had a great ride and I’ve done a lot of special things that a lot of guys have not been able to accomplish and people thought I couldn’t accomplish.”

Included amongst those accomplishments are: 13-year career averages of 41.1 mpg, 26.7 ppg, 6.2 apg and 2.2 spg; 71-game Playoff averages 45.1 mpg, 29.7 ppg, 6.0 apg and 2.1 spg. He also won one regular season MVP award, four scoring titles and was named an All-Star 11 times. Maybe most impressive of all, omitting the obvious impact that he had on the culture off-court, was the resilience that the 6-0 guard showed in driving into the lane, into men a foot taller than him, time and time again.

“He might be the greatest athlete I’ve ever seen,” Larry Brown, Iverson’s coach from 1997-2003 and the current coach at SMU, told SLAM today. “I don’t think there’ll be another one like him.

“I’m sure we faced a lot of obstacles, maybe even on a daily basis, but when it came time to play, to try to win a game, he tried to play as hard as he could for his coach.”

“He had a magnificent career, and he enjoyed every minute of it,” says the source. “He enjoyed the places basketball took him, he enjoyed the camaraderie with his teammates and he especially enjoyed that his job was playing the game that he loved.”

In a lengthy sit-down interview with SLAM this past spring, Iverson was overcome with emotion when discussing his tenure in the NBA.

“It enabled me—and it has enabled me—to take care of my family,” said Iverson. “It brought me so many fans and people that love me. I met so many great people. And it made me, whether I like it or not, a role model. It built me up, it knocked me down, it taught me how to get back up. It did a lot for me.”

With basketball behind him, Iverson, the source says, hopes to place all of his energy on his business holdings and children.

“He loves his fans more than anyone,” says the source. “He loves how they ask for his return constantly, on the streets and on the internet. But now that they know it’s not happening, he can just focus on his future endeavors.”

Iverson will be eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

“If I’m blessed with being a Hall of Famer, it will be emotional,” Iverson said to SLAM last spring. “You can’t mention ‘Allen Iverson’ and don’t mention basketball.”

After starring at Georgetown, Iverson was selected No. 1 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996. He also spent time with the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies.

Since appearing in his final game, at Chicago in February of 2010, Iverson occasionally mentioned the desire to return to the NBA. But for various reasons, both in and out of his control, he was never signed as a free agent.

And now he never will be.

“He deserves better,” said Brown. “I wish he could’ve went out on his own terms, at his own time.”

Sikkcaden · 08-21-2013, 03:50 PM

Pound for Pound one of the best players to ever play the game.

BoxBreaker72 · 08-21-2013, 03:51 PM

Toughest player I ever saw play.

In his prime, there wasn't anyone more fun to watch IMO.

bigsmooth · 08-21-2013, 03:54 PM

The HoF clock starts after your last game played, not upon an official announcement from player/family, and yeah he is for sure a first ballot entry.

SDcardguy24 · 08-21-2013, 03:57 PM

Very fun player to watch for sure. No doubt about it, he will be in the HOF.

bdoody42 · 08-21-2013, 03:59 PM

For sure a first ballot hall of famer!!!! Imagine what his career could have been if he would have learned to change his mindset.

ray34allen21 · 08-21-2013, 04:01 PM

Too bad he was a jerk, he could have been one of the best of all time

cardinalscards4 · 08-21-2013, 04:03 PM

My favorite basketball player of all-time, btw.

I wish someone would give him another NBA shot!

bigcwd2000 · 08-21-2013, 04:05 PM

Iverson was an amazing scorer in the league especially for his size. He will be in the Hall of Fame. It's a shame his career fizzled out in the end though.

Jin · 08-21-2013, 04:10 PM

People's opinions of Iverson are always so muddled because of his "practice" incident and his arrests. But to me, he was a great player that brought a lot of fans to the NBA and a mediocre team to the Finals.

bdoody42 · 08-21-2013, 04:11 PM

I think he could still be playing if he would have accepted a lesser role. Just seems like his ego got in the way of what could have been.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigcwd2000

Iverson was an amazing scorer in the league especially for his size. He will be in the Hall of Fame. It's a shame his career fizzled out in the end though.

murrke03 · 08-21-2013, 04:22 PM

You mean he hasn't been retired all year years? Haha

bigcwd2000 · 08-21-2013, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdoody42

I think he could still be playing if he would have accepted a lesser role. Just seems like his ego got in the way of what could have been.

Yeah you are probably right. I think he had some family issues where he decided to leave the team too and that didn't help.

bdoody42 · 08-21-2013, 05:15 PM

Great player who would have been even better if he had a better head on his shoulders.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigcwd2000

Yeah you are probably right. I think he had some family issues where he decided to leave the team too and that didn't help.

Jef · 08-21-2013, 05:23 PM

Big fan! Great player!

BBallCT · 08-21-2013, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdoody42

I think he could still be playing if he would have accepted a lesser role. Just seems like his ego got in the way of what could have been.

Bang on.

Fantastic talent that got caught up in the ego game.

hazenuts · 08-21-2013, 05:49 PM

AI is always going to be my childhood fav

CubKings · 08-21-2013, 06:14 PM

One of my favorites of all time. I was especially all in on Iverson mania during 00-02.

celtics · 08-21-2013, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray34allen21

Too bad he was a jerk, he could have been one of the best of all time

He was one of the best of all time, the best player he ever played with was a out of prime dikembe mutombo and he still lead that team to the finals!

bballcollector · 08-21-2013, 07:10 PM

He's in the HOF. We'll never see another little man be that dominant ever again.

bballcollector · 08-21-2013, 07:13 PM

AI was must watch TV. We talking about practice.

ASAPPORKY · 08-21-2013, 07:23 PM

He was one of the best players I've ever watched.

nbacardDOTnet · 08-21-2013, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDcardguy24

Very fun player to watch for sure. No doubt about it, he will be in the HOF.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jef

Big fan! Great player!

sweet AUs

I pictured this yesterday

bdoody42 · 08-21-2013, 07:49 PM

Where does he rank among all time greats?

blastman · 08-21-2013, 08:46 PM

Iverson is one of my favorite players of all time.

08-21-2013, 03:50 PM	#2
Sikkcaden Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 6,658	Pound for Pound one of the best players to ever play the game. __________________ High-End Basketball - IG: @skcdncards

08-21-2013, 03:59 PM	#6
bdoody42 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: MD Posts: 8,346 Mainecards42 bdoody42	For sure a first ballot hall of famer!!!! Imagine what his career could have been if he would have learned to change his mindset. __________________ Looking for Celtic on card autos and Paul Pierce cards. IG-marylandcards42

08-21-2013, 04:01 PM	#7
ray34allen21 Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 1,022	Too bad he was a jerk, he could have been one of the best of all time __________________ I COLLECT RAY ALLEN!!! SIDE PCs: Kemba Walker, Yu Darvish, Tracy McGrady, and some other stuff. I CAN ONLY DO TTM PAYMENT.

08-21-2013, 04:10 PM	#10
Jin Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: University of Illinois Posts: 4,777 JinsUnited	People's opinions of Iverson are always so muddled because of his "practice" incident and his arrests. But to me, he was a great player that brought a lot of fans to the NBA and a mediocre team to the Finals. __________________ https://www.flickr.com/photos/jinscollection/albums - collecting HOF patches and inscriptions -

08-21-2013, 05:23 PM	#15
Jef Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,307	Big fan! Great player! __________________ http://jef010.imgur.com/ Updated February 18, 2015

08-21-2013, 03:51 PM	#3
BoxBreaker72 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10,353	Toughest player I ever saw play. In his prime, there wasn't anyone more fun to watch IMO.

08-21-2013, 03:54 PM	#4
bigsmooth Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: United States Posts: 1,532	The HoF clock starts after your last game played, not upon an official announcement from player/family, and yeah he is for sure a first ballot entry.

08-21-2013, 03:57 PM	#5
SDcardguy24 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 9,210	Very fun player to watch for sure. No doubt about it, he will be in the HOF.

08-21-2013, 04:03 PM	#8
cardinalscards4 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 7,513 cardinalscards42 prospectpicks	My favorite basketball player of all-time, btw. I wish someone would give him another NBA shot!

08-21-2013, 04:05 PM	#9
bigcwd2000 Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,474 bigcwd2000	Iverson was an amazing scorer in the league especially for his size. He will be in the Hall of Fame. It's a shame his career fizzled out in the end though.

08-21-2013, 04:22 PM	#12
murrke03 Banned Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 10,606 murrke03	You mean he hasn't been retired all year years? Haha

08-21-2013, 05:49 PM	#17
hazenuts Banned Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,238	AI is always going to be my childhood fav

08-21-2013, 06:14 PM	#18
CubKings Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Earth Posts: 6,517	One of my favorites of all time. I was especially all in on Iverson mania during 00-02. __________________ NBA: Marbury, Jordan, Kobe, Westbrook, KD, AI, Jazz MLB: Chicago Cubs, Stanton, Aramis Ramirez, Sosa NFL: Minnesota Vikings, Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson https://sportscardalbum.com/u/cublife

08-21-2013, 07:10 PM	#20
bballcollector Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 9,417 Banj	He's in the HOF. We'll never see another little man be that dominant ever again.

08-21-2013, 07:13 PM	#21
bballcollector Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 9,417 Banj	AI was must watch TV. We talking about practice.

08-21-2013, 07:23 PM	#22
ASAPPORKY Banned Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 665	He was one of the best players I've ever watched.

08-21-2013, 07:49 PM	#24
bdoody42 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: MD Posts: 8,346 Mainecards42 bdoody42	Where does he rank among all time greats? __________________ Looking for Celtic on card autos and Paul Pierce cards. IG-marylandcards42

08-21-2013, 08:46 PM	#25
blastman Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Schaumburg, IL Posts: 5,236	Iverson is one of my favorite players of all time.