SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Allen Iverson made his debut for the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night in Sacramento, and for someone who hasn't played in a month or so, it wasn't too bad of one. Iverson, returning from a partial left hamstring tear, had 11 points in 18 minutes in the Memphis' 127-116 overtime loss.He said the hamstring felt fine. But it was another part of his body that Iverson wasn't feeling so good.
"I had no problems (with the hamstring)," Iverson said afterward. "I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That's the only thing I got a problem with."
But Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins took out Iverson down the stretch of the fourth quarter, allowing Mike Conley to finish up regulation. Iverson's postgame comments seem to make it clear that he wants to be a starter for the Grizzlies -- and maybe someday he will be.
"I'm not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve."
- Allen Iverson But Hollins seemed incredulous before the game when he was asked if Iverson would be in the starting lineup against the Kings.
"He hasn't even been with the team until just a couple of days ago," Hollins said. "He's going to come off the bench. He hasn't played all preseason, hasn't played the three regular-season games (leading up to Sacramento). He only practiced three days in training camp before he got hurt so there's no way I would trot him out there in a starting role."
Apparently, Hollins might want to think about doing it for Wednesday's game against the Warriors. Iverson made it clear he doesn't fashion himself a sixth man; never has.
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"Yeah, I'll be disappointed (if he's a sub this season)," Iverson said. "I'm not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. ... To answer the question, 'No, I'm not a bench player. I'm not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you I'm not a sixth man."
Hollins said afterward he doesn't think a three-guard lineup with Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo and Iverson will work. It's got too many defensive deficiencies, according to the coach. Maybe so. But Iverson already seems to be putting the pressure on.
When asked how he felt out there, Iverson responded: "It felt like me. I've been playing basketball 26 years. That's what I do. I'm a professional at it. It felt like me."
And there's no doubt, Iverson feels like he's a starter.
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Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Heard it all before. Wasn't this year going to be different? Wasn't he going to be a team player this time because this is his last chance? Wasn't it all Detroit/Michael Curry's fault last year? C'mon Iverson apologists, let's hear your latest excuse...
there are always players that are poison to any team they play for. iverson is poison. plays in his first game and complains. this is only the beginning, memphis will be sorry. he can play but he is lowlife.
they better start iverson. mike conley is a joke.
all the iverson haters need to shut up. it's like putting michael jordan or kobe bryant on the bench. it's ridiculous and disrespectful for someone of iverson's stature.
Don't ever put Iverson in the same catagory as Jordan or Kobe... Iverson can't even carry their jock straps!!!!
No way. Iverson is all about me, me, me. The coach made the correct choice. It would be foolish to have a player come into a season after an injury and play 30-40 minutes. Especially since he's a little older. I wish Iverson would just once think about someone other than himself. He might even have said. " He's the coach, and I haven't been here at all for a while." This is why Iverson isn't thought of as a Jordan or Bryant.
And how many rings does AI have again? That's right...ZERO...just like you and I!
You put Iverson's name in the same sentence with Michael Jordon. Please restrict your comments to curling. sounds like it's more your sport.
Iverson is a F$%%%%% JERK!!!!
When is this guy gonna grow up?
When Iverson has won a championship ring, then compare him to Jordan & Kobe, they were & are leaders who do what it takes for their teams to win, Iverson only cares about himself. He was a great player, but never has, and never will be a team player, therefore he will never win a championship. Memphis glad you got him and my Pistons don't anymore.
WAS A GREAT PLAYER? A player should only be called great if he makes his team a better team. The likes of Jordan, Kobe, Wade, Duncan, even Shaq, Pierce, Billups I have no reservation calling them great players. Iverson is nowhere close to being a great player. He is a good player, but not great.
He is lucky to be drawig a check, he should shut up and take the poition e has.
Coach should have sat him down and expalained to him what his plans were these first few games....communicate ! AI is not at the point where he should be a 6 man....i think he would retire before he gets to that point....Conley just needs to let him know whats going on and stay off the power trip. Iverson just takes pride in starting, although he should not talk to the media about this crap....it makes him look bad, kind of like Barkley used to do and still does.
I think Iverson needs to mature as a team player before he makes claims to what everybody already knows: he can play individual basketball.
A.I. is a perfectionist of the sport. His opinion is surely his own. Although he has never won the ring, he is by far an excellent player. However, the coach has every reason not to start him due to the facts already listed. But no coach nor even a player can forecast how the rest of the season will pan out. Let the season show for itself.
AI does not care about his team, only about himself -- any team he is on will never be a winner. He turns the team into a loser.
this is hilarious. he's not even (nor should he be) a starter on the freaking grizzlies. he signed with the grizz thinking they were the only team that would actually need him to start, and they don't. that's great.
wish you'd signed for a european team now, don't you? eh, i bet they'd bring you in off the bench too.
U should have known that AI was going to pull something. I agree, he is not a sixth man but he didn't play any of the preseason and we all know how he feels about "pratice". Give the coach a chance, maybe he knowns what he's doing. It is not like they will make it to the playoffs :-)
I've been an AI fan since Georgetown, but it's about the time for him to shut up and accept the roles they give him. He's not a first option anymore and too fragile. 30-35 minutes a game should be good for him and if he proves he should getg more minutes by the Grizzilies actually winning a game, then everyone will be happy.
Iverson...you make me sick. PLEASE just retire so we don't have to look at your ugly mug anylonger. Your an over paid asshole! it's always been about you, that's why you will NEVER win a championship in the NBA. Coach Thompson should have whipped your ass back at Gtown....maybe you wouldn't have turned out to be so ignorant. " Practice, Practice, it's just practice...OMG....grow up!