'Lightning rod' Iverson brings excitement, identity to 76ers
PHILADELPHIA -- Allen Iverson broke down just two minutes into his opening statement to the media at his introductory press conference with the Sixers Thursday evening.In attempting to describe his relationship with the fans of this city and the opportunity he has to play in front of them again, Iverson was brought to tears."The relationship that I have with these fans is like no other, I think, in sports," Iverson said. "I have a love for them, and they love me.
"When I had the opportunity to come back here, I couldn't turn it down."
And thus began the newest reality show on television, "A.I.'s Last Chance," to be broadcast three or four times a week on NBA League Pass.
The remainder of the Sixers' season will not be about the team's sudden inability to defend or their abandonment of Eddie Jordan's Princeton offense less than a month into the season. Whether the Sixers are winning or losing, and whether he's the reason for the wins or the losses, Iverson will be the story.
But there is no denying that it's great story. The 13-year veteran and one-time icon, with nowhere else to go, comes home with one more chance to restore his reputation.
"This is where my love is at," Iverson said. "I want to be here. I always felt it was strange having another uniform on. I never felt comfortable with another uniform on."
He admitted to making mistakes in his past. He said he could understand why most teams in the league, despite all his talent, had no interest in signing him, given two opportunities to do so in the last few months.
"That bad rap followed me, and it ended up hurting me," he said.When Iverson met with Ed Stefanski on Monday, the Sixers president had a notebook with a list of issues the player needed to address.
"That's the biggest notebook you have, as far as issues with me?" Iverson asked. "You need something the size of a phone book or something, with all the things that people have said about me."
He's ready to address all the issues. He's saying all the right things. But he has said all the right things before. At every stop he's made, we've heard Iverson tell us how he's learned from his mistakes. And at every stop, he has continued to make mistakes.
The latest one, his reaction to not starting for the Grizzlies earlier this season, is another one he regrets.
"It was something that I wasn't accustomed to and I didn't know how to deal with it," Iverson said. "And obviously, I didn't deal with it the right way."
The Sixers, despite a huge hole in the backcourt with Lou Williams out eight weeks, have not guaranteed him a starting job. But Iverson sees the talent on the roster and has no problem with playing a different role than the one he had the last time he wore a Sixers uniform.
"It's totally different with this situation," Iverson said, "because if you look at my career here, I was always called on to be the scorer every single night. There's guys on this team that can get it done on given nights.
"It's about winning basketball games. Some nights, I won't be the guy taking all the shots like I used to do. I won't be the guy scoring a lot of the points. But some nights, I will. All it is is playing winning basketball.
"I want to fit in. I want to be just a part of any success that we have. I just want to be one of the guys."
While he understands the criticism about his inability to accept his role in Detroit and Memphis, Iverson denies that he's ever been selfish on the court.
"That's the thing that hurt me out of all the things that I've been hearing," he said.
The Sixers now have three All-Star caliber players. With Iverson controlling the ball, Elton Brand on the block and Andre Iguodala on the wing, this can be a very good team if they're all on the same page. So far this season, the team has lacked an identity, struggling on both ends of the floor, despite a recent history of being a very good defensive squad.
Stefanski calls Iverson a "lightning rod," and believes his presence will be a driving force as the Sixers try to get out of their current funk, having lost eight straight games. He also believes that Iverson's ability to leave everything out on the floor will inspire his new teammates to play with more fire.
"If he can play that same way for our young kids to see it, that's huge," Stefanski said.
The reality show continues Monday. It may make the Sixers a better team. It may not. Either way, it will be interesting. And it will likely be the last chapter of a great career.
Iverson may not have a choice, but he says he wants to retire a Sixer. And he believes that if he can help the team and do what they ask of him, retirement won't have to come at the end of this season.
"I don't want to prove anybody wrong in this situation," Iverson said. "I'm not in it for that. If I can help my team win basketball games the way that coach wants me to help, then I'll be satisfied."
