DENVER -- Allen Iverson back in Denver?Don't completely rule it out. At least that's the word from Nuggets coach George Karl, who said Tuesday the team would consider bringing back the guard if there were to be an injury on his team.
"A.I. for us is an injury discussion,'' Karl said. "I don't think it's a discussion right now for us... But just say somehow (guard) Ty Lawson is out for the season, I think speed and quickness is what Ty gives us. A.I. would be on the list of speed and quickness.'
For now, though, Karl said the Nuggets aren't eyeing Iverson, who played for them from 2006-08, when he had his last two impressive NBA seasons.
"I think that I like my team right now,'' Karl said. "I don't think I want that type of, what would the phrase be, energy to be figuring out how to handle that energy.''
Before the Grizzlies signed Iverson, Karl said the Nuggets had some discussions about bringing him back.
"I can't deny that we did have a conversation on A.I. this summer,'' Karl said.
Iverson's career has gone downhill since he was traded by the Nuggets to Detroit in November 2008. He complained about coming off the bench with the Pistons. Then, after signing with Memphis, he continued to complain about his role as a reserve, which resulted in his exit.
"I think he will,'' Karl said about whether Iverson again will play in the NBA. "A.I. is a smart player and he still has talent. Can he find a piece or a team that fits their puzzle and fits his puzzle?''
Karl, who was surprised at how short Iverson's tenure was in Memphis, believes Iverson would be most effective coming off the bench at this stage of his career.
"If you're playing from the bench, you get 15 to 20 minutes against second-tier players,'' Karl said. "It can sometimes make it easier... That man, if you give him situations where he can score, I think when he's 50 he's going to be able to score.''
Iverson averaged 26.4 points for the Nuggets in 2007-08. But he came down with some nagging injuries in training camp in the fall of 2008 and soon was traded to Detroit. He never again has been the same player."Maybe he slowed,'' Karl said of why Iverson has fallen off since leaving the Nuggets. "I don't know. We were playing in an offensive mode and an offensive system that maybe catered to him... It's true for every player that is probably over the age of 34. You got so many opinions. When he you have a bad game is it because you've slowed?... That's a case for a shooter when you're all of sudden not making shots. It all comes. When you get older and you don't maybe have a good game, you get scrutinized higher because maybe he's lost it.''
Also, Karl said Nuggets star forward Carmelo Anthony missed the morning shootaround due to a migraine headache. But he expects Anthony to play in Tuesday's home game against Toronto.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Come on Iverson - your game is over! You had a great career, but it's over!
Good things are happening with the Nuggets. Why infest it with the Iverson Cancer?
George Karl and AI.RIP
You wish!
who cares about the NBA it is the tatoo league, and the NFL is the drug league, no game with a clock worth anything------golf and baseball--no clocks
I happen to be a fan of the Denver Nuggets and I would be very happy if Allen Iverson came back. He is a good ball player and has a great respect for the fans. I know because of a personal experience.
GO NUGGETS!
Did you say Allen Iverson has a great respect for the fans? hahahaha You're joking, right?
Iverson has great respect for NOTHING. His constant need to be the center of attention worked for him 10 years ago (when he had game), but now that he has slowed down a bit(age + injuries), he needs to think more about how he can help a team's younger players excel. Unfortunately, since he can't see past himself, that won't happen.
You nailed it Tom, this guy is a loser!
Rest in peace Al, you rode high during your time!!!!
It just cause he Black, that he have no where to play b ball......
Oprah, better for you to say nothing as your grammar embarasses yourself, but you're probably not aware of that! Your comment is way beyond stupid!
Al should be in that new vampire movie because he sucked the life out of the Pistons while he played in Detroit. He came over late , did'nt practice ,complained about his playing time , got injured and then retained most of his salary when he left . Then he had the nerve to complain about Detroit while praising his new team .
If he goes to Denver he won't get along with Billups and a good Denver team will become just OK .
A.I. and the Nuggets were great together once, why not again? A.I. is a great player and a great human being; he proved in Denver he can win. Maybe he's the piece that's been missing from the puzzle of why the Nuggets can't go deep into the playoffs. Come on George; tell the G.M. we need A.I. now!
I am a huge Denver Nugget fan, and believe you me, I have never been more happy that AI left. He has always been an "it's all about me" player. Nothing but a ball hog. His time is over and I hope he just keeps walking into the sunset.
Guys like Karl Malone, John Stockton, Kareem, Michael Jordan, etc. all played to their 40's or close to it because of work ethic, which Iverson doesn't have. He shows up for games, and expects to stay on top without practice. He's just as selfish as Terrell Owens but at least Owens puts in his work.
While in Detroit A.I. had a great respect for the great and many casinos and strip clubs that he and his entourage were always at.
Once a street thug, always a street thug. This punk will be in trouble as soon as the NBA realizes he's done, which seems to be about now. A true cancer to any team. Will be great when he's in jail where he belongs!
Iverson and TO, are both cancers to teams who they played for. they both would be dead as gang bangers in the hood if it weren't for being born to two hood mothers who don't know who their fathers are.
Every team that hires these guys is looking for problems
Denver could have used iverson against the lakers I say wait and access your injuries and afetr the all star break pick him up for play off punch(if you need him) Clevland could use him now
Allen Iverson is one of the best guards to play the game. I cant see how nobody wants to pick him up. Any coach that turned AI down is a discrace to the NBA. If I was Phil Jackson I will get AI a 3year contract, that would be 3 guarented championships in a row and he would be my starting guard. Players look at Phil Jackson as a father figure and thats what Allen Iverson needs.