Allen Iverson Retiring from NBA

[zerocool84]

Allen Iverson is set to retire from the NBA, according to an online report.

Commentator Stephen A. Smith published a statement on his Web site Wednesday attributed to Iverson. It said Iverson plans to retire but also that "I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level."

The statement also said Iverson has tremendous love for the game and the desire to play.
The 10-time All-Star played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways.

One of the NBA's great scorers, Iverson entered this season with a career average of 27.1 points that ranked fifth all time. Yet there was almost no interest in him this summer before he went to the Grizzlies on a one-year deal.

Iverson can still score, as he averaged 17.4 points with the Pistons last season. Yet he has made it clear he doesn't view himself as a backup, which has likely hurt his chances of signing with a contending team.

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/11/25/iverson.report.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2

It's sad that he's retiring but he did it to himself. He can still score but him not wanting to be a reserve is what killed him but I'm sure this isn't the end for him. Someone will get injured and he'll come out of retirement to play for them.

 

[pray4mojo]

he'll be back...when he can start.

 

[classy]

This is shocking to me. He is still able to dominate a game. No way Iverson can't start. Sounds like blackball to me. There is some just utter trash playing. No way a top 50 of all time, still a dominate player can't find a team where he can start. His attitude has never been good, but there is no question of his talent and greatness.

 

[Analog]

good riddance.

 

[TecHNooB]

Make way for brandon jennings.

 

[Pacfanweb]

The NBA won't miss him. He's a great 1 on 1 player, and that's it. Not a team player at all.

THAT is why he can't find a job. Not because he doesn't want to be a backup.

He's a career 42% shooter who averaged 27ppg. That tells me he's a ball hog who isn't a very good shooter, but shoots so much he scores anyway. Shot even worse in the playoffs, but took a few more shots to make up for it.

Not a team player, not a great defender, shoots a low percentage and doesn't like practice. Typically made teams he was on worse, other than one brief run in Philly.

Nope, not one of the best of all time, and he won't be missed.

 

[slayer202]

The NBA won't miss him. He's a great 1 on 1 player, and that's it. Not a team player at all.

THAT is why he can't find a job. Not because he doesn't want to be a backup.

He's a career 42% shooter who averaged 27ppg. That tells me he's a ball hog who isn't a very good shooter, but shoots so much he scores anyway. Shot even worse in the playoffs, but took a few more shots to make up for it.

Not a team player, not a great defender, shoots a low percentage and doesn't like practice. Typically made teams he was on worse, other than one brief run in Philly.

Nope, not one of the best of all time, and he won't be missed.

can't say it better than this.

 

[tboo]

Its about practice

 

[Dr. Detroit]

A team will sign him before the final deadline, which I think is in February.

A title contender will need some spark off the bench and AI will say for $2.5M how can I turn that money down for playing 1/3 the season. He will accept the role and rinse repeat the following year but at $4.5M.

Sheed needs to call him up and explain how these things work.

 

[Miramonti]

Clippers could use him, but they're stuck with Baron Davis @$12m, one of the most overpaid players in the league right now.

 

[Imdmn04]

The NBA won't miss him. He's a great 1 on 1 player, and that's it. Not a team player at all.

THAT is why he can't find a job. Not because he doesn't want to be a backup.

He's a career 42% shooter who averaged 27ppg. That tells me he's a ball hog who isn't a very good shooter, but shoots so much he scores anyway. Shot even worse in the playoffs, but took a few more shots to make up for it.

Not a team player, not a great defender, shoots a low percentage and doesn't like practice. Typically made teams he was on worse, other than one brief run in Philly.

Nope, not one of the best of all time, and he won't be missed.

Actually, watching him over the years, he can definitely pass the ball, when he wants to.

The problem is that for the first 10 years of his career, he had pretty much no supporting cast, so he had to take all the shots, good ones or bad. Once he got to Denver, he shot over 45% while taking less shots.

He actually has great playmaking skills for someone that is a "ballhog" type of player. You just have to put him in the right system and set a very strict role for him, which is the hard part, because he doesn't really listen to anyone.

 

[zerocool84]

Actually, watching him over the years, he can definitely pass the ball, when he wants to.

The problem is that for the first 10 years of his career, he had pretty much no supporting cast, so he had to take all the shots, good ones or bad. Once he got to Denver, he shot over 45% while taking less shots.

He actually has great playmaking skills for someone that is a "ballhog" type of player. You just have to put him in the right system and set a very strict role for him, which is the hard part, because he doesn't really listen to anyone.

It's not like he did horrible in Denver. Mello and him had a good run. Sure they didn't get past the first round of the playoffs but the rest of the Denver team sucked when he was there.

 

[classy]

I laugh when people say he was a ball hog. He is 28th all time in number assists and in the top 40 or so in assists per game. That is alltime. Considering the number of folks to play the game in the last 50 years if he is a ball hog there was a lot of players who were serious ball hogs.

 

[actuarial]

I laugh when people say he was a ball hog. He is 28th all time in number assists and in the top 40 or so in assists per game. That is alltime. Considering the number of folks to play the game in the last 50 years if he is a ball hog there was a lot of players who were serious ball hogs.

People confuse needing the ball to be effective and being a ball hog. Don't kid yourself though, he DOES need the ball to be effective. He's not going to help much if you have a post player you want to run your offense through. He does set up his teammates a lot though.

Lebron (who I love) is very similar, and having Shaq has proved that. Now one thing about Bron is he will make a lot of cuts to the basket, so he does find a way to help the offense if plays are being run for others. Iverson not so much.

The team that needs him is the Bobcats, but they don't seem to want him. They are TERRIBLE on offense, and Iverson would open up the floor a lot, and put the ball in the basket REASONABLY efficiently (FG% isn't everything, he gets to the line a lot). They're also good enough on defense to cover up his deficiencies and allow him to gamble for steals (which he loves to do).

I wouldn't want him on the Raps though.

 

[polarmystery]

Its about practice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exOxUAntx8I

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

It's his piss poor attitude more than anything. He is not concerned with winning or he would be willing to come off the bench. All he cares about is putting up numbers and selling jerseys. He quit on Detroit and refused to come off the bench. I'm glad the NBA saw him for the selfish prick he is.