I'm still a fan, but, again, this isn't the right attitude to have entering free agency. He should know that. How much is an aging, undersized shooting guard worth in free agency these days? I mean you could argue that he didn't deserve to start in the All-Star game this season.
Iverson returned to action this past weekend after missing 16 games with a back injury, and coach Michael Curry has used him off the bench the last three games.
"I'm in a position now that I've never been in my whole life," Iverson said. "It's harder than I thought it would be. With the back injury, I have to sit out at the start, then go in, then sit again. It's tough to really get going. I take my hat off to the guys who can come off the bench and be effective. It's tough for me. I'm struggling with it."
"I'd rather retire before I do this again," Iverson said. "I can't be effective playing this way. I'm not used to it. It's tough for me both mentally and physically. If I'm able to go out there, I should be able to get it done and I can't right now. It's my fault. I have to be able to overcome the adversity and do what I have to do. I just have to find a way to get it done. Not being 100 percent makes it harder and you can see that I'm not 100 percent."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4035415
Good points raised from this article.
Iverson's career has seemed to take a backseat to his aging and beat up body, and the Pistons have seemed to join him. That was until Rip Hamilton re-entered the starting lineup.
Iverson has never been a player who played from the bench at all. From his days as a quarterback at Bethel High School, Iverson is used to being the focal point of every offense and defense.
But, there was always one knock the critics and haters continually bashed against Iverson's head: he is a selfish player who can't play within a system.
There was no situation that could expose that point like joining a Detroit team who epitomized a system. Every player on that team fit into that system like squares of a quilt.
Going back to Iverson's Georgetown days, he always had the ball in his hands and was able to create his own shots and offense at will. With another trigger-happy guard playing alongside him in Victor Page, he and Iverson shot whenever they wanted to.
Guys such as Boubacar Aw and Sheikh Ya-Ya Dia were happy to rebound their sloppy seconds, and those teams were formidable because of Iverson and Page, but never made considerable noise.
Meanwhile, players like Richard Hamilton and Ray Allen made championship strides in the same conference with the Connecticut Huskies.
Meanwhile, the media is buzzing about what will happen to the Answer when he returns from injury, barring the possibility that his back is worse than anticipated and missing significant time.
Curry has no choice, clearly. Hamilton stays in, Iverson out.
Iverson playing from the bench? It seems like the unthinkable, and you wonder can Iverson put his past achievements and ego aside to help the team win.
Will he?
We simply don't know, because we've never seen Iverson this way. He's always been the most effective offensive option for any team he's played for, Iverson has always been that entity with the ball in his hands who defies conventional basketball wisdom.
Barely a six-foot guard who can often score on anyone. A career scoring average of 27.1 ppg and 6.2 apg. League MVP. Iverson's credentials speak for themselves.
Does his basketball character speak just as loudly? Is he willing to age as a basketball star playing a different role? Does he want to win at all costs, even if he isn't involved the same way he's used to?
We will soon find out. "The Answer" will be the answer to the Pistons season and playoff hopes.
Besides, he's playing for a contract somewhere next season.
http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/JL ... In_Detroit
