For any of you who read The Hoop Doctors with any sort of regularity you won’t be surprised to hear that Allen Iverson is one of my favorite NBA players. He’s actually a favorite of many of the Docs around our shop. And why? Because he’s real. He lays it on the line every night. Regardless of what happened this year with the Pistons, it can’t erase the work he’s put in for so many years in the NBA. The guy has mad heart. And what happens with guys that have that much heart? They aren’t afraid to get emotional.
I think a lot of people that look at Allen Iverson’s exterior and judge him like they would a book by its cover are missing out on what this man is all about. He’s a work horse, he’s tough as nails, and he puts his friends and family before all else. If you don’t like Allen Iverson that’s fine by me, but that doesn’t change my opinion of him that he’s real. He’s definitely my kind of people.
Last week at his Hampton Celebrity-Charity Basketball game he put on quite a show for the locals, and two lucky kids received scholarships from Iverson to help them get the education they need but would have trouble affording on their own. Say what you will about Allen Iverson, but he doesn’t just go through the motions or follow instructions from a PR rep like some players with these public outreach events. I’ll say it again, he’s real, he gives back, and I hope he finds a home next season in the NBA with a team that appreciates the fact that guy is still one of the best players in the game. He puts asses in seats, he’s good for the community, and he’s still a winner if put into a system to take advantage of his abilities.
Enjoy the highlights, including his emotional press conference after the camp:
