Just in case he didn't make himself clear after Tuesday's game, Allen Iverson once again lamented his lack of a starting job following Wednesday's loss in New Jersey, in which he scored just four points on 1-8 shooting in 17 minutes. "I will retire before I do this again. I will leave the game before I do this," he said. "Because I can't be effective like I know I can playing this way. It's just something I've not ever been able or had to do."
Those are bold words for an aging player to make before becoming a free agent in a troubled economic climate. If he was willing to truly embrace the role of a super-sub in the mold of Jason Terry or Manu Ginobili, he could probably help a number of contenders by providing a potent scoring option off the bench, dominating the ball to his heart's delight while running with the second unit.
But if he draws a line in the sand and demands a starting gig? Well, so much for chasing a ring. If we've learned anything this year, it's that Iverson needs the ball in his hands to be effective and happy. But considering he turns 34 years old in June and has clearly lost a step or two, he's simply no longer good enough for a contending team to justify overhauling their offense so he can be the centerpiece.
And that's not even considering the enormous pay cut he'll be forced into taking. Given his age, the league's declining revenue and the generally dismal outlook of the economy at large, there's a very good chance that Iverson will struggle to find an offer greater than the mid-level exception, a mere fraction of the $21.9 million he's making this year as the second-highest-paid player in the game.
For a guy who's already banked over $150 million in salary (without even counting endorsements) nearing the end of his career, he's facing a big decision next year. Is it worth accepting a 75% pay cut to go out as a winner ... or will he give up hopes of getting back to the Finals simply so he can retire as his team's leading scorer?
Whatever he decides, he sounds like he'll be content either way. From The Sporting News:
"I'm happy with my career and the things I've done in my career," Iverson said. "I feel blessed that I've had the opportunity to accomplish the things that I've accomplished, to do the things that I've done. I would feel fine if I had to (retire)."
[...] Iverson doesn't want to retire; he says his love of the game has never been greater. "I want to be out there on the basketball court," he said, "but if (retiring) is something that I have to do, then so be it."
Latest NBA Images
In this March 31, 2009 photo, empty seats are visible during the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball game in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
AP
In this March 31, 2009 photo, seats are empty at the start of an NBA basketball game between the Indiana Pacers and the Chicago Bulls in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
AP
ORLANDO , FL - APRIL 1: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic reacts during the game against the Toronto Raptors on April 1, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Howard
NBAE via Getty Images
ORLANDO , FL - APRIL 1: Chris Bosh #4 and Shawn Marion #31 of the Toronto Raptors rebound against the Orlando Magic during the game on April 1, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Bosh;Shawn Marion
NBAE via Getty Images
ORLANDO , FL - APRIL 1: Courtney Lee #11 of the Orlando Magic shoots against the Toronto Raptors during the game on April 1, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Courtney Lee
NBAE via Getty Images
ORLANDO , FL - APRIL 1: Shawn Marion #31 of the Toronto Raptors shoots against the Orlando Magic during the game on April 1, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shawn Marion
NBAE via Getty Images
ORLANDO , FL - APRIL 1: Marcin Gortat #13 and Rashard Lewis #9 of the Orlando Magic rebound against the Toronto Raptors during the game on April 1, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marcin Gortat;Rashard Lewis
NBAE via Getty Images
ORLANDO , FL - APRIL 1: Andrea Bargnani #7 of the Toronto Raptors dunks against the Orlando Magic during the game on April 1, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andrea Bargnani
NBAE via Getty Images
ORLANDO , FL - APRIL 1: Shawn Marion #31 of the Toronto Raptors dunks against the Orlando Magic during the game on April 1, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shawn Marion
NBAE via Getty Images
ORLANDO , FL - APRIL 1: Shawn Marion #31 of the Toronto Raptors shoots against the Orlando Magic during the game on April 1, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shawn Marion
NBAE via Getty Images
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Iverson is a great, great player. He still has some gas in the tank, and I'd love to see him in a Knicks uniform..
Who cares what Allen Iverson does? He's nothing more than a street thug who can play basketball. He's stupid and will be flipping hamburgers once he's broke again, which shouldn't be long as dumb as he is! He's the moron who said "if I can't make more than 15 million a year, I'll just play for the love of the game!? HUH? Truly out of touch fool!
Great 'tude! Ship his ass to the Clipper's then and let him play everyday and lose because yanno losing seems to fit his style.
he need ta stay with tha pistonz they lost too many good playerz they dont need ta lose another one cuz billups and wallace iz gone now so iverson need ta stay on dec wit tha detroit baskert ballaz
I hate all that you stand for.
Surprise, surprise.
He is a thug who can play basketball, let him retire nobody cares.
Who cares about Allen Iverson? Definitely NOT any TRUE PISTON fan. LilPaul, Duamrs got Allen to get rid of him after his contract expires this year. Get rid of Wallace too. He has slippery hands and is so inconsistent that we need to rebuild. We want Bosch. We want Boozer. We want anyone that is a team player. If Allen Iverson were smart, we all know that NOT to be true, he would come off the bench on any team and slash up the second string. Do not get me wrong, e is still a very talented and very quick player. But, he is not a team player. The Piston organization is about the team. Will there be any love lost when he leaves? NO!! He is like Darko, no one will even care. Believe me, I gave him every chance. I bleed blue and red!!! I went to every playoff game in the past years. I went to the championship games. I hoped and even prayed that this guy would help the team out. How can one "All Star Player" come and make a team worse than they were? Good bye Allen!!! Thanks for ruining the #1 jersey that Big Shot made. Joe D, I love you. I back you in 95% of your decisions, but I plead with you...cut your loses. There comes a time when you cut bait and move on. So get rid of Sheed, let AI go because the Answer is NO, and lastly get rid of Curry. He is an assistant coach or a Division 2 college coach, NOT the coach of a NBA Champioship team.
Iverson ruined the Pistons... where he goes is not as critical as when he leaves - which could not come soon enough. Iverson is a spoiled prima donna who has zero - zip - nada concept of team or unity.... chances are if he isn't in the NBA he will be in prison somewhere!
I hope he does retire. Then I won't have to to see his gang banger rear again (but he won't retire, what would his 40 man possy do? Flip burgers?
HEY DETROIT----THANKS FOR THE TRADE!!!
SINCERELY
THE DENVER NUGGETS
The guy stinks. If I took 40 shots per game I'd average 20+ points too. Hes a butch that cant hit anything, and he never heard of the word assist......................
Iverson is the answer to only one question..." Who made teams worse no matter where he went?" let's look at the record, in one year (which could have simply been a fluke) AI and sixers went to the ring playoffs and lost 4-1 in the series. Other than that...nothing much of consequence for sixers while he was there except attendance by Philly fans, who are the same people who thought Eric Lindros was God..oh well. Next he goes to the Nuggets, a team with even more talent than his previous sixer team and what happened? uhmm.....I can't even hear crickets....now he's at the Pistons and they're sucking big time and he has the same Starbury attitude only different words than "Practice? I'm a franchise player, why should I practice?" this time it's about coming off the bench...and while ALL the time he says it's about team, that's simply AI code for "I'm a team player as long as I'm the most important thing on the team"...those of you who can't see that are holding onto mythology....
Let his a55 retire. When we started him he sucked balls and when we don't start him he still sucks. Theirs a reason why Denver got rid of him. He's not a team player. He's not a leader... so let him retire. Oh and didn't he say that he would do anything to stay with the Pistons... including coming off the bench?
Maybe he should P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E more and then he would get to start!
AI plays ball,he has been hurt so back off.
AI...please please retire and take Sarah Palin with you...
Iverson is getting proud before his fall . The pistons need his instant points off the bench . His lack of team concept is dragging his game down . He is still one of the most talented creators off the dribble that the game has seen but you can see him second guessing and that is making him force plays . If he gets it into his head that he wants to win for the team and Detroit then no doubt he would start next year ...until then us fans just wonder --what he is thinking ?
Half of you don't know what you're talking about. Before you decide to leave a "comment," get your facts straight. Allen Iverson is NOT a selfish player. How can he be when he leads the Pistons in assists? Wow, guess you thick-headed morons wouldn't know that considering you're sitting here bickering about nonsense. Iverson will never EVER mesh with the Pistons, period. The way he plays, is the way he's played for 13 years. If anybody thought he was going to change, then I feel sorry for you. You obviously had no idea about who Iverson was or what he's done in his career. He hasn't really lost a step, he's forced to lose a step playing with the Pistons. They don't like running, therefore he doesn't. Iverson is a first ballot Hall of Famer and nothing anyone says can change that. He's one of the greatest scorers ever, especially for his size. No matter where he goes next season, he will play his heart out the way he believes is right.
Before you go about judging someone, especially an NBA athlete, think twice. None of you could do an eighth of what players like Iverson have done throughout their careers. I don't care if you don't respect him as a person, but respect the fact that he's a talented athlete, who has worked hard to get to where he is today.
Hey none of us are thinking we can do what Iverson can do in a game. he is a great player, just not one with a team concept. He is a selfish player because he has to be. He is a slasher, his job is to get people to crash on him near the paint and dish it out. Now assists, ok he is at 5 per game as an average. There are 2 other players that are over 4. This a share 'em team. His average is down from teh typical 6-7 that he has had over his career. No one thought he was going to make the Pistons better. It was a tough loss to "give up" Chauncey. We needed the court general. AI should come off of the bench on a lot of teams to really dominate the other team's bench. He could further his career a DH in the American league. He would be much more valuable to a team that way. So YES he is selfish ini thinking of only himself and not the ability to get to make a Championship run with a TEAM. The Stones have been making runs for like 7 years straight. Since he came on they got worse and everyone agrees with that. Maybe you have not seen how the Stones have been playing. They have tried up tempo. He has been out for a few week with a back ache and they played better. I for one (and sure there are others) will be happy when we do not have to talk about him as a Piston any more. And I was almost excited when he came on. Good thing him and Sheed will be gone next year. Maybe the two complainers can play in Europe together in the sunsets of their careers.