The “Answer” has
found the Basketball Hall of Fame, and the corridors of the Naismith shrine may
never be the same.
Allen Iverson was
about more than basketball. Simply put, he changed the NBA. He changed the
look, he changed the style, and he changed the heart. Some people hated him for
it, but that’s how it usually works with polarizing figures. They’re either
loved or despised.
Sometimes there’s a
price to pay for being transformational, and Iverson almost lost his career
because of it before he even got to college. The grainy footage from the Spare
Times bowling alley in his hometown of Hampton, VA has been shown on an ESPN 30
for 30 special, as well as the Showtime network documentary on A.I. The tape
fails to show whether he was involved in a brawl before his senior year at
Bethel High School. Yet, there appears to be little doubt that prosecutors singled him out
when making their case, and Iverson almost had to serve five years in jail. He
did serve time at the Newport News City Farm before then-Governor L. Douglas
Wilder pardoned Iverson.
From there,
Georgetown coach John Thompson took a chance on the young man known as “Bubba
Chuck,” recruiting him to become a Hoya. And the rest is history.
Just like with Kobe,
even if you didn’t like Iverson, you had to respect his ability and his heart. He
drove the lane with a lack of fear, challenging defenders who were as much a
foot taller and 100-150 pounds heavier than the six-foot guard who weighed
about 165. He hit the floor thousands of times, causing fans to gasp and
coaches to cringe. But, he always got back up. Always.
Here’s a small man
fact. Of the top 25 scorers in NBA history, only Iverson and Jerry West (6-2)
are the players on the list under 6-foot-5. Iverson finished his career with
over 24,000 points (26.7 per game), over 5,500 assists and close to 2,000
steals. He even grabbed 3,394 rebounds, almost four a game, amazing for someone
who was always the smallest player on the floor.
Some people labeled him a ball hog, yet
Iverson averaged over six assists a game for his career.
Here are Iverson’s
three biggest contributions to the NBA. First, he made the small man scorer
meaningful over the course of a career, a feat that had not been touched since
the days of Nate Archibald with the Kansas City Kings. Second, he MADE the
“crossover” move famous on the day that he broke Michael Jordan’s ankles with
it. Finally, he changed the way players dress, the way they act; in fact, he
changed the attitude of the game. Though some did not appreciate the baggy
hip-hop clothes, tattoos and cornrows, there is little doubt that many other
players (and fans) soon followed A.I.’s lead.
Iverson’s first stop
on the Hall of Fame tour was in Philly. Although he played for four teams, he
was and is a 76er. He had the opportunity to be introduced to the adoring Sixer
crowd once again, and followed with a press conference where the now 40-year
old got emotional when talking about his winding road to Springfield,
Massachusetts, site of the Naismith museum.
“Imagine what I’m
going to be like that day,” said Iverson, talking about the Hall of Fame
ceremony.
For those who love
Allen Iverson, Bubba Chuck, A.I. and the “Answer,” that day can’t get here soon
enough.
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