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15 great moments from Allen Iverson's iconic career
Allen Iverson, a true NBA iconoclast, finds himself in the Hall of Fame. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

15 great moments from Allen Iverson's iconic career

Allen Iverson is known as the Answer, but what is the question?

Can a convicted felon live out his dream? Iverson did.

Struggles came early for Iverson when he was convicted of maiming by mob through a rarely used Virginia statute. Iverson spent four months in jail before being granted clemency by the state's governor. He was able to get the attention of coach John Thompson at Georgetown, where he attended and played basketball. After two years, Iverson become the leading scorer of the Hoyas and was the first player to leave early for the NBA draft under Thompson. He was drafted with the first overall pick in 1996.

Can a 6’0" shooting guard be successful in league? Iverson was.

Even with his diminutive stature, Iverson was a force to be reckoned with. His ability to find shooting angles and openings in traffic was uncanny, and his quickness made even the stingiest defenders look silly. Four scoring titles, two All-Star MVPs, and one MVP season later, A.I. made it known that size is just a number (or series of numbers).

Who is a Hall of Fame basketball player who stayed true to himself, never shied from criticizing the establishment and still given its highest honor? Iverson is.

Much like the Fab Five at Michigan, Iverson was a trendsetter and role model for many NBA players. The cornrows, baggy cloths, chains and tattoos were the opposite of the clean-cut image that the NBA wanted to present to the public. In spite of this, Iverson was an icon to many for doing things his way and still making it in an environment that discouraged going against the grain.

Despite the questions regarding his character or ability to be a team player, Iverson has had an answer for every doubt or concern placed upon him. His status as a cultural icon and relentless competitor has earned him a spot among the greatest basketball players ever.

Here are 15 moments reminding us of Iverson’s contributions to basketball, both on and off the court.

 

Posterizes Marcus Camby

Rookie-on-rookie crime is a beautiful thing. Both players are looking catch on somewhere, so they throw everything they have just to survive. On this night, Iverson did more than survive — he put the league on notice.

 

The ultimate thief

As talented as Allen Iverson was, double-doubles were not a frequent occurrence over most of his player career. However, in a playoff game against the Orlando Magic in 1999, Iverson achieved one of the rarest with 33 points and 10 steals, a playoff record.

 

Cross on Michael Jordan

Fear was never in the vocabulary of Iverson, even when facing Michael Jordan. You would be surprised how many grown men would be intimidated into being passive by getting checked by Michael Jordan. But Iverson is no ordinary man.  Even the greatest of all time is going to get got sometimes, and Iverson had the bravado to try and succeed.

 

(Literally) steals a game against the Wizards

Clutch and Iverson went together like peas and carrots. This game is special not because there was a lot on the line, but because he basically did it all by himself — a common theme during this first tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers.

 

Takes out the Bucks in 2001

Up 3-2 on a feisty Milwaukee Bucks team, Iverson dueled with Ray Allen with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line. The battle did not disappoint, with Allen torching the 76ers for 41 points — but that only made Iverson play harder, topping him with 44 points and seven assists. The 76ers would go on to win the game by 17 behind Iverson’s relentless effort, and made it to the Finals for the first time since 1984.

 

So fly, the Commissioner changed the dress code

One thing you can’t say about Allen Iverson was that he was disingenuous.  Everything down to his hip-hop inspired clothing and tattoos was signature Iverson. Then-NBA commissioner David Stern was not a fan of it. In fear of the NBA’s image being associated with rap and some its negative aspects, Stern instituted a dress code that would eliminate most items from Iverson’s extensive wardrobe. Not one to shy away from speaking his mind, Iverson said, “They're targeting guys who dress like me—guys who dress hip-hop. Put a murderer in a suit, and he's still a murderer. It sends a bad message to kids."

 

2001 All-Star Game

All-Star games are kind of a joke in the first three quarters, but once that fourth quarter hits, the real competitors bare their teeth. Down 90-71 in the final frame, Iverson scored 15 points in the final nine minutes to help the Eastern Conference secure the win against a stacked Western Conference team. His never-say-die attitude earned him the first of his two All-Star MVPs.

 

Cross on Antonio Daniels

It’s rare to get an athlete so confused that he falls, but Iverson found a way to break Antonio Daniels two times. Filthy.

 

2001 MVP Award

It was a special year for Iverson. He came to an understanding with head coach Larry Brown, who believed in him and accepted him for who he was. He rewarded that faith with one of his best seasons, winning the scoring title, leading the league in steals and guiding the 76ers to the best record in the Eastern Conference.

 

Step over Tyronn Lue

If you want a signature Iverson moment, this is it. Iverson and the 76ers were facing a Lakers team that swept their way to the NBA Finals, and no one was giving them a chance to win. He defiantly put on one of the greatest playoff performances ever, capped off by this jump shot where he steps over a fallen Tyronn Lue. There is nothing more Iverson than beating you and letting you know about it afterward.

 

Destroys Gary Payton

Yes, Gary Payton was 32 years old, but he was still the Glove: a legendary defender who was so good, he held Michael Jordan to 36.7 percent shooting in the last three games of the 1996 NBA Finals. But Iverson doesn’t care about anything but the moment on the court. The Answer lit up Payton for 41 easy points, and made the Glove look like a loose mitten.

 

Joining Club 60

 

With a rookie Dwight Howard on the floor, Iverson showed the 7’0" center that size doesn’t matter.

 

Practice

This is one of the most infamous press conferences in any sport. It started with an innocuous question about Iverson’s practice times and devolved into Iverson appearing to disparage practice as a whole. What never gets played is the whole clip, where Iverson reveals that his childhood friend just died. Do you think he would rather be at home grieving than answering questions about practice? Probably so. Unfortunately for Iverson, this clip will probably define his career more than any point he scored.


52 against Raptors in playoffs

Going on a scoring tear is well and good in the regular season, but doing it in the playoffs is a completely different animal. Three games after scoring 54 points, Iverson put up 52 against Vince Carter and Toronto Raptors. He also added seven assists to help the 76ers win by a 33-point margin.


Return to Philly


You can take the man out of Philly, but you can’t take the Philly out of the man. After being traded to the Nuggets, Iverson made his way around the NBA trying to find a new home, but nothing compared to the love he had in Philadelphia. Iverson grew up in Virginia, but he had the heart and soul of a Philly citizen: tough, brazen and always the underdog.

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