OT: SI article on Iverson...

[campybatman]

Rasheed Wallace to Boston is a classic example, a player in the twilight of his career who is willing to fit his somewhat diminished skills into a specific role for a good team that's getting better.

In Hollywood terms, it's the leading man or lady who transitions into character roles. Michael Finley and Antonio McDyess both did it recently, signing with defending champions San Antonio (2005) and Detroit ('04) respectively (and in McDyess' case, a year too late). Karl Malone tried it with the Lakers in '03. Gary Payton did it twice, jumping aboard the Lakers in '03, then getting it right with Miami in '05.

Allen Iverson ought to be next. The '01 MVP, nine-time All-Star and four-time scoring leader has the individual résumé for such a move.

What he doesn't have, though, is the attitude for it. Or the personality, the ego, the inclination or the confidence.

Iverson says he wants to continue playing in the NBA but apparently only on his terms, with minutes and shots more of a priority than victories or rings. At least you can't say dollars, since the pay cut he'll be facing down to the mid-level exception (about $5.8 million) or some fraction thereof will be staggering wherever he goes. He just sounds incapable of changing, too insecure to handle the "Didn't you used to be 'The Answer'?" looks and questions.

In terms of NBA precedents, Iverson is way ahead of Shawn Marion and on the verge of eclipsing Latrell Sprewell as the most rapidly marginalized and fallen talent, non-crippling injury category. The transitions that Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Nate Archibald and Bob McAdoo successfully navigated, from Mr. Franchise types to supporting players who gained rings and added credibility late in their Hall of Fame careers, seems beyond him. Iverson's most face-saving option might be Europe, where he could truly be a gate attraction without rocking other NBA players' boats.

Don't forget, though, that even Dominique Wilkins -- after taking his dunking and scoring overseas for a couple of seasons -- eventually accepted diminished roles in Boston, San Antonio and Orlando near the end route to Springfield. Iverson, on the other hand, could end up like Madonna headlining on the casinos circuit because she wouldn't sing backup for Beyonce.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/w ... ml?eref=T1



Interview with John Thompson...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMRBqapyknc&NR=1

[Andrew McCeltic]

Don't want to gang up on Iverson, but the wiretap a couple of days ago reported he has interest in MEMPHIS?

[bc legends]

Don't want to gang up on Iverson, but the wiretap a couple of days ago reported he has interest in MEMPHIS?

Yup. When asked what he'd do if forced to come off the bench he said he'd most likely retire. Definitely makes it hard to respect someone with that kind of attitude regardless of talent.

[greenbeans]

I'm fairly positive the Memphis stuff was just his agent floating it out there to see if there was any interest, since they were one of two(?) teams with cap space.

[campybatman]

Rather than chase a ring, Iverson is chasing a starting spot on a team, any team, as long as he's starting.

I'm this close to almost saying that this is sad. He tends to have this "Me Against The World" mentality. As if refusing to become a reserve player, from being a star and a starter, is him bucking the system in some way. More power to him... But at what cost?

He probably won't end his NBA career on a positive note. That is, forget about being a part of a championship team.

[TA42]

Rather than chase a ring, Iverson is chasing a starting spot on a team, any team, as long as he's starting.

I'm this close to almost saying that this is sad. He tends to have this "Me Against The World" mentality. As if refusing to become a reserve player, from being a star and a starter, is him bucking the system in some way. More power to him... But at what cost?

He probably won't end his NBA career on a positive note. That is, forget about being a part of a championship team.

I definitely think the AI is having a really hard time with all of this. While he's definitely not the player he once was, he was a very capable scorer in Denver. It's starting to look like the Detroit experience has become his real downfall.

I can't believe he averaged 33+ points four years ago...seems a lot longer.

He's a player that needs to have the ball in his hands at all times to be effective so it makes a lot of sense that he'd want to go to a team where he might be a focal point.

[campybatman]

But that's what doesn't make sense in his logic here. He can still somewhat dominate the ball as a sixth man off the bench like a Terry for Dallas. Terry actually won the Sixth Man Of The Year this past season. Granted, Terry isn't Allen Iverson, an All-Star. However, the point I'm making can still apply to him [Iverson].

Terry averaged over thirty minutes a game, and averaged 15.8 field goal attempts. Iverson averaged 14.6...

[TA42]

You're right....he could certainly get his points coming off the bench.

The bigger issue is that Iverson still believes he should be a starter in the league. He obviously doesn't think his skillset has diminished one bit.

It will be really interesting to see where he ultimately ends up and at what salary.

[PPAW4Life]

I don't understand where people get the right to tell someone to be who they think he or she should be.

If Iverson doesn't want to chase a ring, why should he? Where does the author get off?

[sully00]

I have no problem with a player hanging it up instead of hanging on. From what I could tell he wasn't very good coming off the bench why should he fumble around at 34 years old?

He isn't going to get paid like he is accustomed and he has to come off the bench and he is a jerk because he might retire?

[Mahoney_jr]

I don't understand where people get the right to tell someone to be who they think he or she should be.

If Iverson doesn't want to chase a ring, why should he? Where does the author get off?

Iverson thinks himself as a standout player in a team sport. He isn't a standout player anymore (while others might actually think that the role he demanded was too large during the whole course of his career) and that he still wants to be the single guy creating on offense, rather than coming off the bench, it plain stupid and just supports the impeachment of AI's egoism.

That's stupid, because several teams could use his service off the bench. He even wouldn't have to change his game! Just accepting being a 6th man and going on a scoring spree for 20 minutes/game.

[campybatman]

I don't understand where people get the right to tell someone to be who they think he or she should be.

If Iverson doesn't want to chase a ring, why should he? Where does the author get off?

If that's what you think, what you've taken away from this topic. Then maybe you're missing the point. Personally, I didn't write (or want to imply) that he isn't within his right to want to continue starting for a team or retire if he so pleased. There's nothing wrong with individuality in sports or real life. All I'm really saying here is simple. Iverson in essence is painting himself into a corner. if you'd read through the CNNSI article, you would've understood that point. People are just scratching their heads about this. No one's necessarily saying he's wrong per se. Or maybe some are. However, when you take on this kind of attitude, this stance in your approach to free agency. You may or may not get what you want in the end. You're certainly limiting yourself.

When I wrote as if Iverson should want to chase a ring or put himself in a better position to be a part of a championship team. What I mean is that he goes on about having a desire to win a championship. If that's what he aspires to or he wants to fulfill before his career's over. It'll be a tough road to travel when you limit yourself. And that's what he's doing here basically. In order to reach some goals, you'll have to have a willingness to make sacrifices. It begins with self.

[Dave_From_NB]

It's in the realm of possibility that AI won't get a contract offer this year.

I don't see him good enough as a starter for a good team, so if you're going for a championship you don't sign him as a starter. If you're rebuilding, you don't want him as a starter because he's taking minutes away from a prospect, he's hurting your draft position, and he's hardly the veteran you want to have your rookies mimick.

Losing sucks. Winning is great. The only thing I can come up with for what he is doing, is he wants to pad career stats.

This is IMO pretty sad. He's almost as pathetic as Favre, probably the only thing keeping him from being more pathetic is that he's mimicking the Antoine Walker retirement tour - just disappearing because nobody wants him.

[campybatman]

Interesting... Now Iverson appears to be loosening his belt in terms of must starting. His comments seem to suggest that maybe his agent is telling him what I was saying before about Terry. That it's about minutes, minutes that can be still significant (that of what a starter gets) from the bench.

Riley has adamantly said he doesn't plan to take on any contracts that extend beyond next summer, when Wade and other marquee players such as Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire could become unrestricted free agents.

Riley also said he wouldn't make any major roster moves this summer unless Wade were to commit to a contract extension, which he becomes eligible to sign Sunday.

The Heat has the $5.5 midlevel exception, a $4.2 million trade exception and a $2 million veteran exception it could use to bolster the roster. But the team also is over the projected luxury tax and would have to pay a dollar-for-dollar penalty.

Iverson -- or any other potential free agent -- likely would have to accept less than the full midlevel amount and closer to the veteran's exception on a one-year deal in Miami.

On Tuesday, Iverson downplayed the back injury and said he is ''totally healthy and ready to go'' for next season. But he's dealing with another pain.

''My shoulder is hurting [badly] now because of the chip I'm carrying around on it,'' he said. ``I can't wait.''

He amended his demands to start, but said being asked to play 15 or 20 minutes a game would be a waste.

With Wade entrenched at shooting guard and Mario Chalmers having started a franchiserookie-record 82 games last season, the Heat would have to creatively work Iverson into a prominent role in the rotation.

''Any coach, GM or player in the league knows what I'm about,'' said Iverson, who has a career scoring average of 27.1 points. "With 15 or 20 minutes, I may as well stay home and play with my kids. I can help a team way more than that. I'm not saying I have to start. I want people to know you should earn that. Beat me out. Let's go to [training] camp, and may the best man win. I promise that you won't.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/baske ... 31926.html

[sully00]

I just don't understand why he isn't in CHA already. They need to make the playoffs and he needs a place to be AI. What is the problem?? They have the coach and the defenders to make it work.

Maybe the Bulls?

I know he is kind of a love or hate guy, but I love him flaws and all, he is the anti Vince Carter.

[crm0922]

"I'm not saying I have to start. I want people to know you should earn that. Beat me out. Let's go to [training] camp, and may the best man win. I promise that you won't.''

Here's the problem. Many players would "beat him out" in the eyes of virtually every NBA coach.

Ok AI, go play with your kids and STFU. You are a failure.

C

[campybatman]

Yeah, I was displeased by his comments too. He comes off as an aging star who is unable to come to terms with his declining skills. I mean he doesn't think that a Chalmers or Mayo could beat him out in training camp. He needs to swallow his pride with a nice cold beverage of humility.

Is that wittiness in your voice? He should hope that reality doesn't come along and knock that chip off his shoulder. Because what's he to be upset about. There are teams that may have an interest... Just not necessarily in him to be their starter.

''My shoulder is hurting [badly] now because of the chip I'm carrying around on it,'' he said. "I can't wait.''

[PPAW4Life]

I don't understand where people get the right to tell someone to be who they think he or she should be.

If Iverson doesn't want to chase a ring, why should he? Where does the author get off?

Iverson thinks himself as a standout player in a team sport. He isn't a standout player anymore (while others might actually think that the role he demanded was too large during the whole course of his career) and that he still wants to be the single guy creating on offense, rather than coming off the bench, it plain stupid and just supports the impeachment of AI's egoism.

That's stupid, because several teams could use his service off the bench. He even wouldn't have to change his game! Just accepting being a 6th man and going on a scoring spree for 20 minutes/game.

Prove to me that Iverson is still not a standout player anymore? Anything that went on in Detroit was a mess and is not a true representation of anything. AI was also injured.

I counter the last two years Iverson was in Denver, were probably the best he's ever played within the terms of "team" and still being "The Answer".

Give AI another legit 2nd option and 40 mpg, he'll still deliver 25 ppg / 6 asp / 1.8 spg on 45% FG shooting. And he'll still get to the line 8-9 times per game.

[PPAW4Life]

I don't understand where people get the right to tell someone to be who they think he or she should be.

If Iverson doesn't want to chase a ring, why should he? Where does the author get off?

If that's what you think, what you've taken away from this topic. Then maybe you're missing the point. Personally, I didn't write (or want to imply) that he isn't within his right to want to continue starting for a team or retire if he so pleased. There's nothing wrong with individuality in sports or real life. All I'm really saying here is simple. Iverson in essence is painting himself into a corner. if you'd read through the CNNSI article, you would've understood that point. People are just scratching their heads about this. No one's necessarily saying he's wrong per se. Or maybe some are. However, when you take on this kind of attitude, this stance in your approach to free agency. You may or may not get what you want in the end. You're certainly limiting yourself.

When I wrote as if Iverson should want to chase a ring or put himself in a better position to be a part of a championship team. What I mean is that he goes on about having a desire to win a championship. If that's what he aspires to or he wants to fulfill before his career's over. It'll be a tough road to travel when you limit yourself. And that's what he's doing here basically. In order to reach some goals, you'll have to have a willingness to make sacrifices. It begins with self.

I understand the point completely.

Basically people, namely the SI author, they want to paint AI in a bad light so they compare him to other "once stars" of the game who chased rings later on in their career, as their talents were diminishing.

You can call a duck, a geese, when it is still a duck, but you'd be wrong.

If Iverson still sees himself as a star and he wants a chance to prove that again, why can't he?

Why does he have to be a ring chaser?

We all know what AI is about. Don't make him out to be something he is not and then call him out on it.

It's like calling Ray Allen a thug....I mean WTH people?

What do you expect from Allen Iverson?

[GuyClinch]

^^ AI is a career .425 shooter and a career .313 from 3. So its hard to imagine he would come in and shoot 45% without fail. I do think AI is underrated - but the worry is that he would come in and steal shots from teamates.

It's important a star regulates his shooting by the options available. Thus on a loaded team you should be either shooting a high percentage or shooting less - perhaps both. AI has shown little inclination to alter his game in this regard.

Pete