All About The Answer?

I’m tired of the media calling Allen Iverson selfish and greedy. Too much ‘I’ in AI? There’s obviously not enough to talk about in the L. I don’t get it. Why the hate? Iverson did request a trade. He did want a better situation for himself. He can be fiery and stubborn. And ya, he’s put up a lot of shots throughout the years, but who else was supposed to take them? Aaron McKie? Eric Snow? John Salmons? Dikembe Mutombo?

For years, Billy King has assembled role players around AI. He was the go to guy in all situations. Allen hasn’t learned, nor needed to play any other way. To call him selfish for taking a team on his back when there was no other choice for the past decade is not seeing AI for who he is. In my opinion, Iverson didn’t have anyone to share the ball with until Chris Webber came along. AI loved the idea, publicly approving for C-Webb to join him in the spotlight. Now, with the development of Andre Iguodala, Iverson has struggled to distribute and make his teammates better.

But AI has never had to make like Terrell Owens and share. The teams around him just weren’t good enough. Would a tougher coach more like Larry Brown and less like Maurice Cheeks be the answer? Maybe. It’s more than likely his new situation will show if he can become a true team player. He’ll be forced to split the limelight with other stars.

Calling him egocentric is wrong. I don’t care if he missed a team function or left practice early. It’s hard to be a good employee when you’re not wanted, and the Sixers showed no love when they shopped him in the off-season.

He can be hard-headed but there’s no doubt he’s a winner. He’s gonna have to learn to become a different kind of winner. I for one can’t wait to find out.

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By Tas Melas at 3:27 pm on 12.13.2006 — Tags: Allen Iverson, Trades, Sixers

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7 Responses to “All About The Answer?”

  1. Matt at 6:43 pm on 12.13.2006

    Bill Simmons from ESPN also points out that he played with only two All-Stars in Philly (Theo Ratliff in 2001 and Dikembe Mutombo in 2002).

    Also, Iverson’s four best teammates were Coleman, Stackhouse, Ratliff and Andre Igoudala.

    No wonder he never won a ring.

  2. Mike at 8:46 pm on 12.13.2006

    Why the Raps need AI:

    AI is unbelievable. He’s been my favourite player since he arrived at Georgetown - I even financed a $50 bet in junior high backing Iverson (over Marbury) to have the better pro career (HAHA!) - and I hope to God the Raps trade TJ Ford, Morris Peterson’s expiring deal, Humphries’ expiring deal and Rasho Nesterovic for Iverson.

    It gives Philly a young point-guard, about 9 million in cap room for the summer, and a half-reliable big man.
    Toronto could team AI with Bosh (how’s that for an upgrade at side-kick for The Answer?), and with Bargnani’s development, might be able to make a run through the East next season.

    Sounds crazy right? Which is why I figure King might go for it.

    Please, Bryan Colangelo. Please. I will buy you a new high-collared shirt.

    I really think I would literally sell a kidney to Iverson play play for 2 years. I’d sign up for season tix tomorrow. I love AI more than I hate Vince Carter.

    Let us pray for AI.

  3. Matt Gibson at 9:42 pm on 12.13.2006

    What I don’t understand with all this AI for this player and that player is why everyone thinks a big name is better than 4 players. TJ is a solid point guard who at times can take dumb shots or get out of control a bit, but he can pass. He knows how to get players involved. Mo Pete is a good three point shooter and alright defender. Rasho can play D, like he did on Howard tonight, and Humphries gives you depth. Iverson won’t get you as good setups as Ford, can’t shoot the three like Mo, isn’t that good at D and that trade would dry you the Raps depth alot.
    You also got to think how will AI do in the passengers seat. The raps need those 4 players more than AI

  4. hootch at 10:12 pm on 12.13.2006

    I also love AI but I wouldn’t even trade him straight up for TJ Ford. The Raps finally have a good young point guard (signed long-term) who actually WANTS to be in toronto and who is buddies with Chris Bosh… there is no way they are going to trade him for an aging superstar. All things being equal, of course AI is a better player than TJ but all things are definately not equal.

  5. enrico at 11:09 pm on 12.13.2006

    I don’t know if I’d go as far as saying “calling him egocentric is wrong.” Blown out of proportion, perhaps. I’m not sure all of the nightly and weekly peccadillos A.I. committed got as much national play as it gets in Philly.

    Iverson may be my favorite athlete ever, but he is no angel and deserves to shoulder some of his own load.

  6. basketball at 12:53 am on 12.14.2006

    I have never gotten why people like watching AI play. He’s selfish. And does everyone forget it’s a team game…not a one on one sport?

  7. zooba at 5:12 pm on 12.14.2006

    He was surrounded with stars on Team USA 2004 and still jacked up shot after shot and ended up with one of the lowest shooting percentages on the team.

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