After Allen Iverson received permission from the Grizzlies to take a personal leave of absence on Saturday, it was only natural to wonder if that was the last we would see of him in Memphis. Iverson was clearly unhappy coming off the bench, and his coach, Lionel Hollins, was clearly unhappy with the distraction the situation was creating for his team.Most thought that if Iverson didn't return to the Grizzlies, then he would surely end up somewhere else. But according to a report in The Commercial Appeal, retirement is something that instead may be on the iconic superstar's mind.
SI.com: Iverson's Return in Question
Allen Iverson is contemplating retirement if he doesn't rejoin the Grizzlies, according to a source with knowledge of the veteran guard's situation.There's no question that Iverson still has some game left, and he could definitely contribute to a team in a reduced role. But obviously, that remains the sticking point.
The stress associated with a family issue plus Iverson's frustration over playing a reserve role might spell the end of his 14-year NBA career, according to the source.
Would Iverson, at this point in his career, ever be OK with coming off the bench? Or, looking at the bigger picture, could Iverson come to grips with the concept that the team he plays for would now no longer rely solely on him for its success?
Those are questions that only Iverson himself can answer. But based on the way he's reacted to working in a supporting role both in Detroit last year and in his current situation in Memphis, it doesn't seem like a scenario that he's ever going to be willing to embrace.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
He needs to become the player-coach of any team that would sign him. His enourmous ego cannot fit any other system. It is real sad that during this economy the selfish cannot see reality and choose to whine and cry about "respect". Any of us average folks who works for someone never gets respect nor the kind of money he makes, yet this poor soul is blind to the wonderful gift God has given him. Go away Mr. Iverson, you are insulting to most of us hard working fans whose paycheck barely meet our basic necessities.
That's the best news I've heard come out of the NBA in years. He's not a team player, It's all about "AI"!..just ask him! Coach Thompson should have kicked his ass back in college, then maybe he wouldn;t gotten such a big head! Good Riddens!!!!
"the way he's reacted to having a supporting role"....yup...this is the issue...It's all about ego for AI...and he refuses to get it, that he's NOT a franchise player anymore IF he ever was one.
When I hear Franchise player I hear, Tim Duncan, Lebron, Dwade, Kobe and even Shaq...these are people to build a team around...not someone who disdains practice for the sake of his ego thinking he doesn't need it...
Franchise players think Franchise first, me second...AI's franchise is AI...regardless of how much apologists will say he dishes the ball...it goes beyond that...and yes, at times he has sublimated his ego long enough to deign to work with others like Melo but couldn't manage to 'come off the bench' in support...which means...
" I want the team to win and will do anything to do that, except come off the bench and leave my ego on the sidelines...."
I hope you're going AI...the "Answer" after watching him for years as a Philly resident, all I can say is, I was glad when you left and was not surprised to see you make other teams better teams by leaving them as well...AI...you were talented and yet, like T.O. your ego was bigger than the ability to truly function well on a team...
bout damn time
AI was a one man show in Philly and he could sell tickets. Time for some practice and being a true team player !!
Iverson was chosen an all star last season by the fans, though I would have preferred Jose Calderon be chosen. He is everything Iverson isn`t, a pass first, team oriented point guard, and he was punished not rewarded for it. But both could have been selected. Williams and Nelson both represented good teams, but were only marginal all star point guard candidates. I hope Iverson plays a few more years, bringing down that gaudy scoring average, back down to a more realistic career level. But the media has been cheering for him to retire, not for production reasons, but for race/personality reasons. He is still a better small guard than most who are starting in the Nba, for all his failures, as a shoot first, low frield goal percentage, gambling on court, showboat.
Practice!! Were talking about pratoce...practice!
ALAN,Who?, way past his time. He's an old guy in a young guy's game. Give it up already. Who needs the drama?
Hey Allen: don't let the doorknob hit ya where the dog shoulda bit ya.
Whatever,whenever his one of the greatest to play the game. Best wishes...
"Did Tawanna tell you to say that?!"
Ask Latrell Sprewell how that's working out, dumb ass!
i was at the sixers game tonight against the suns , the coaching for the sixers was horrible by jordan, his second team was winning by double figures, and then he put the starters back in after a few minutes in the forth and they stunk the place up . there is no leadership on the team, brand goes into 4th quarter with 6 or 8 pts 3 rebounds and hardly played in the 3rd. i say lets bring al back put some excitement back in philly and fill the wachovia back up , and i believe he play for less minutes and we might win ,at leased it would be exciting an electric back in philly basketball. because the team and this princeton style basketball that jordan is using sucks----an ole'school philly-basketball fan who to holler when watches basketball all i want to now is vommit
Allen Iverson is one of the greatest scorers of all time he took a bad team all the way to the finals and lost to the dominate lakers He deserves a shot to start on a team especially when there are so many bad ones
i'm a long time AI fan and feel highly qualified to comment. the irony here is that memphis may have worked if AI didn't start chirping after the first game. he should have given it a few games and proved himself on the court which is what he said he would do; however, ego got in the way. maybe he's just had enough of the bs and has enough of the $$ to write it off.
let's not forget that AI was arguably one of the greatest scorers in the history of the nba and pound for pound perhaps one of the true warriors to play the game. AI is a freak of nature in terms of conditioning and stamina often among league leaders in minutes played. He really didn't need to practice in his mind...just ball.
AI, somewhat like Dennis, was a rebel. He brought the brashness, tatoos and attitude to the nba. He represented and brought the street creed to an arena near you. he was who he was and urban american was very intrigued.
when i pull up for the AI jumper coming across the lane in my men's league game tomorrow night, i'll smile and remember some of AI's moves and that crossover. he ws one incredible player.
What would he do differently in retirement than he has done for 15 years in the NBA- PLAY basketball??
Great news for any NBA team medical staff. With Iverson retiring,tons of money will be saved from the need for "ace bandages" and tape,,a staple in the Iverson Image.
does he still think he is still a star, on his best he failed to deliver success. why cant he face reality, he aint a team player anyway, nobody is interested in his ball hogging ways in todays teams.
Allen Iverson is One of the Best Basketball Players ever to play in the NBA, But he will NEVER be Recognized in the The All-Time Greats, Yes he is competitiive as the next, yes He Has God-Given Talents, But He has always been about Himself, Coach Larry Brown had a Hard Time Coaching Him, Why? Larry Brown is Old School? He Believes Basketball is a Team Game? No Mr Iverson plays Street Ball, He needs to Be Grateful for The Priviledge He Had to Play a Game and Get Paid, while many Americans in this Country are Losing their Jobs, Their Homes, its a SHAME He doesnt get it, Allen Iverson was a Good basketball Player, to Bad he could not have been More of a Team Player.
Sha na na na, sha na na na, hey hey now, goodbye.
Iverson's reduced to riding the big timber on the sidelines. Guess it's back to the backstreets of Philly and hooking back up with the Bloods.
Another one bites the dust, hey hey hey.
Adios