As Jordan's aura quietly faded, Allen Iverson, standing at only 1.83 meters, was able to dominate the NBA court filled with giants. He either weaved through defenses like threading pearls or strolled leisurely across the court, scoring as easily as picking peaches from a basket. He once made fans around the world go wild and even worship him. Now, this once iconic basketball figure has finally stepped down from his pedestal, stripped of his glitz, revealing his true self: he is like a knight from the Middle Ages stubbornly riding a thin horse, holding a spear, and moving forward alone in a desolate primeval forest. His tragedy is not just his solitary march but also that he still does not know the cause of his own downfall.
When the Philadelphia 76ers traded him to the Detroit Pistons, it marked the beginning of the end for his basketball career. After falling out with the Pistons, he went to the Memphis Grizzlies, who soon cut him, leaving him unemployed. Recently, the New York Knicks extended an olive branch to him, only to withdraw their offer later. Is Allen Iverson really now worth nothing? Could this former basketball legend be so diminished that he’s not even worth a $2 million minimum salary? Of course not! Every effect has its cause. Where lies the reason for Iverson's current situation? Let us look back at his growth history.
It seems that Allen Iverson has yet to realize the enormous negative impact of his unruly and rebellious nature, even though he is already 34 years old and the door to the NBA championship has almost certainly been closed to him. In reality, it’s not that Iverson’s personality has changed; since entering the NBA, his self-centered nature has always been criticized by the media and the league, but he has never taken it seriously, instead turning it into a form of individuality. This individuality reached its peak when the Philadelphia 76ers advanced to the finals after overcoming many obstacles, making Iverson a symbol of tragic heroism for a time. However, in reality, Iverson's brilliance lasted only that one season. The teams he played on before and after that never managed to break past the first round of the playoffs, largely due to his tendency to try and solve problems solely through his personal strength. And when Iverson's condition declined due to age and injury, but his mindset remained unchanged, continuing to act as he pleased, his tragedy was inevitable. Think about it: during Jordan's Chicago Bulls dynasty, there was not only the "iron triangle" of Pippen and Rodman, but also Longley, Kukoc, Grant, Kerr, among others. Many times, crucial shots were completed by Kerr or Pippen while Jordan drew the defensive attention. A truly great general is not defined by how extraordinary they are themselves, but by their ability to make their teammates extraordinary as well. As the saying goes, "A fence needs three stakes, and a hero needs three helpers." Even the highly individualistic ancient hero Xiang Yu ultimately fell to Liu Bang, who was no martial arts expert. How much more so in today's era where team spirit is essential? Therefore, Allen Iverson can only be considered a classical knight; he cannot be a true leader, nor can he establish a dynasty or achieve lasting greatness.
Allen Iverson was born into a single-parent family. As a child, he often wandered the streets, befriending a group of unsavory characters, which nearly landed him in jail for 15 years. Due to his outstanding achievements and influence in sports, his friends naturally benefited from his success, and he naturally became their true leader. This life circle forged his dominant personality and his indomitable spirit. However, the path of darkness is not the righteous way and rarely leads to positive outcomes. When he reaches the end of his journey, all that remains is regret. Alas!
Allen Iverson (Allen Iverson) Profile: Born on June 7, 1975, in Virginia, height: 1.83 meters, weight: 74.8 kilograms, graduated from Georgetown University, selected first overall in the 1996 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, becoming the idol and hero of Philadelphia fans. Four-time All-Star selection, MVP of the All-Star game and regular season MVP in the 2000-2001 season. Regular season averages: 27.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.38 steals; Playoff averages: 30.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.21 steals; All-Star game averages: 22.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.75 steals; Personal highest game stats: 58 points (January 15, 2002 against the Rockets), 11 rebounds (March 30, 2001 against the Warriors), 15 assists (twice), 9 steals (twice).
Once, he defiantly declared, "I don't have to respect or fear anyone," and now he has become someone whom even the Memphis Grizzlies want to get rid of. Even the usually wealthy New Yorkers who don't hesitate to spend lavishly have shut their doors to him, making his road to re-employment uncertain. Nowadays, Allen Iverson somewhat reflects the idea of "reaping what one sows." Setting aside the disputes with Detroit last year, he could have started anew as a substitute player for the Grizzlies, using his four-time scoring champion abilities to regain dominance step by step. But the rebellion ingrained deep within him made it impossible for him to accept a bench role. According to the latest news, the most likely team to accept Iverson, the Knicks, has withdrawn from the chase. For strong teams, signing Iverson might disrupt internal harmony, which is unnecessary; for weaker teams, signing Iverson might result in repeating the mistakes of the Grizzlies, which they lack the courage to risk. If he doesn’t come up with a brilliant solution, perhaps even he doesn’t know where his next stop will be. Maybe only returning home, truly going back home, can allow him to live more freely and comfortably!
For the Knicks, this news is neither good nor bad. Before July 1, 2010, whether or not Iverson joins, their situation won't change. But for Iverson, this is undoubtedly devastating news because the Knicks may be his only hope for retiring gracefully from the NBA. Now that the Knicks have rejected Iverson, the number of teams interested in him will surely be fewer than the customers at Edward Scissorhands' barbershop. Thus, the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies, two teams that had conflicts with Iverson, provide the best cautionary tales for any other teams considering bringing in this extremely talented and formerly unique player in the league.
At 34 years old, Iverson can bring some star power to the Knicks’ struggling offense and draw fans back to a team that has lacked superstars and struggled mightily in recent years. But over the past few years, the Knicks haven’t just lost games; they’ve also faced constant controversies. Although their record remains poor, they do not wish to add further disputes and distractions while losing games, so rejecting Iverson makes sense.
Iverson's agent, Gary Moore, recently said that AI still wants to continue his NBA career, but I must mention that last season, in the visiting locker room of the Nets, he firmly stated that if he had to play off the bench, he would choose retirement. I've dealt with Iverson for 14 years, so I'm not surprised by such words from him.
"I will treat every game as if it were the last game of my life" has become Iverson's famous quote. Now, his last game might already be over.