NBA icon Allen Iverson desperate for one more shot at the league – NBA Update
Former NBA MVP Allen Iverson (AI) wants to return to the league he set alight for around a decade with his mesmerizing performances and uncanny skills.
The former Philadelphia 76ers icon has not played in the league for over a year, after his constant off court issues resulted in total lack of faith from NBA franchises.
Iverson though is desperate to play again.
“I’ll play for anybody,” Iverson told Yahoo! Sports.
Those are significant words for a player who made headlines when refusing to come off the bench because he felt it was insulting. Iverson however insists he is not the same person and wants another go in the NBA.
AI had always been an eccentric guy, but his enormous talent covered for personal shortcomings. While at the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson became famous for missing practices and rowing with coaches. He did though also take the Sixers
to the NBA Finals and won an MVP award.
As time went on though, his skills started to fade while personal issues, like a rocky divorce, brought out the worst in his demeanour. Initially leaving the Sixers to play for the Denver Nuggets, Iverson bounced around the league
before no more franchises were willing to take a chance on him.
He knows he didn’t cover himself in glory with his past antics, but the 10-time All Star says he has turned a leaf and will be happy to be part of any project in any capacity.
“Obviously, they might have some issues thinking I don’t want to help a team in a certain capacity,” Iverson said. “But that’s over with. All that was going on through an emotional time. It cost me to not play. I’m just willing
to help any squad in any capacity.”
No offers were forthcoming last summer, when Iverson had to look for a job overseas. He went to Turkey after it became no NBA team was willing to offer him a contract and signed for Besiktas. Playing time was limited though because
of injury troubles and now the player is back, hoping he wouldn’t have to embark on another foreign adventure.
“Hopefully, one squad will believe in me and we will go from there. That would be a lot better than having to go overseas.” Allen said.
If Iverson will get a contract in the NBA now is anybody’s guess. The player caused a lot of trouble in his stints with the Detroit Pistons and the Memphis Grizzlies. He is also now 36 years old, and apparently prone to a few injuries.
However Iverson still also remains one of the most iconic NBA players of all time. In his prime, Iverson was simply a joy to watch, a fact borne out by his multiple NBA scoring championships.
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