Hollins Already Tired of Iverson Talk

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Four games into the Memphis Grizzlies' season, head coach Lionel Hollins says he's done talking about Allen Iverson.

Well, not done all together. But apparently done talking about what Iverson says. Two days ago, Iverson complained about a lack of playing time after he made his Grizzlies' debut in Sacramento, and it was clear those statements didn't sit well with Hollins.

"I'm not commenting on Allen," Hollins said Wednesday when asked if he was surprised by Iverson's comments. "I'm done commenting on what Allen says. Allen has a right to say whatever he wants to say. ... Most of you are ready to leave now, huh?"

Iverson missed the first three regular-season games and all of training camp with a partial tear in his hamstring. He scored 11 points in 18 minutes in an overtime loss to the Kings on Monday.

"I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies, and even when Allen was out, I was having to talk about Allen. That's my frustration. I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies."
- Lionel Hollins After the game, Iverson was asked about his hamstring.

"I had no problems (with the hamstring)," Iverson responded. "I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That's the only thing I got a problem with."

When Hollins met the media 90 minutes before Tuesday's tip-off against the Warriors, the first topic that came up was Iverson. Hollins eventually expounded on why he was tired of the Iverson topic already.

"My frustration is I have to talk about Allen Iverson in every press setting," Hollins said. "I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies, and even when Allen was out, I was having to talk about Allen. That's my frustration. I want to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies.

"If Allen plays well and you want to ask me how he played, that's great. Or if he plays poorly and you want to ask me how he played poorly, that's great, too."

If there's one thing Hollins was emphatic about it's that things aren't likely to change anytime soon.

"Allen has played 20 minutes in two months," Hollins said. "There's no way we're making a change and going in a different direction right now. You want to talk to me about the Memphis Grizzlies as a team? I'm not standing here talking about Allen Iverson. I'm sorry."

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