Allen Iverson to sign with Turkish team this weekend
It was widely expected that 11-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson would head to Turkey to ply his trade. But now, with his management team putting out a release confirming the deal on Thursday
28 October, it’s finally official.
The 35-year-old combo guard is expected to sign a two-year deal worth $4 million at a press conference on Friday 29 October with Besiktas, a member of the Turkish Basketball League. Iverson’s
new team last won the Turkish League championship in 1975 but did finish runner-up in 2005. Iverson is expected to join the team the week of Monday 8 November.
Iverson, along with executive board member of Besiktas Seref Yalcin and team owner Yildirim Demiroren, will attend the press conference in New York City.
"He's ecstatic," said Gary Moore, Iverson's manager. "He's very excited, very happy the people in Turkey want him, the people in Turkey appreciate what he brings to the game, and he can't
wait to get over there."
Iverson has been out of work since leaving the Philadelphia 76ers due to family reasons last March. Moore added that no NBA team expressed any interest in signing the 2001 NBA MVP.
Iverson had reportedly received more lucrative offers from Chinese teams, but said he preferred to play in Istanbul. And according to his agent, the Turkish fans are excited to see him.
"The interest the people from Turkey have shown leaves us nothing to feel but very, very optimistic," Moore said. "I don't see why they wouldn't be. Look at everything Allen has done in
his career. Look at the way he plays the game. I can really understand the people of Turkey being happy about getting a player of Allen's stature."
Larry Brown, coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, who coached Iverson for five seasons starting with the 1997-98 NBA season, described Iverson’s situation as sad. "What he's accomplished, I
don't think you want to see him end his career this way."
Over his impressive 14-year NBA career, Iverson averaged 26.7 points per game, winning the regular season scoring title four times. He made his lone NBA Finals appearance in 2001 but never
won a championship.
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