Allen Iverson Retires from the NBA

Allen Iverson is one of the most polarizing figures in all of professional sports.

We heard it first from Kelly Dwyer at Ball Don’t Lie. They heard it from the twitter feed of NBA writer Marc J. Spears. He heard it from AI’s personal manager Gary Moore. That’s right folks, provided we aren’t dealing with a situation of broken telephone, Allen Iverson has decided to retire from the NBA. His career is over, and what a career it was. ‘The Answer’ is calling it quits.

Certainly in the coming weeks there will be plenty of coverage league wide that portrays Allen Iverson as being a selfish player, a veteran that couldn’t let go of his image as the league’s brightest star. A player that fought against father time and could not accept defeat.

But would the true fans of Allen Iverson have had it any other way?

Personally, I wouldn’t have expected, nay accepted, any less from ‘The Answer’. So what if he would not accept that he was no longer the artist on the basketball court that brought him to international fame? The man has no quit in him. That may sound odd given that we are talking about his retirement, but in actual fact when you look back at his career and accomplishments you will see a man that NEVER gave up. That played through countless injuries, that defied the odds, that fought battles of epic proportions in the likes of David vs. Goliath. I still think of Iverson attacking the basket against the giant Shaquille O’Neal in the 2001 NBA Finals, over and over and over again….

Allen Iverson was a damn soldier, and if anyone thinks anything less, they absolutely cannot consider themselves a fan of this sport.

So how did it come to this? We all know about Iverson’s drama and accolade filled seasons in Philly with the Sixers to kick off his career. Then after things soured he was traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2006 for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and some draft picks. After a couple great seasons in Denver from 2006-08 where the Nuggets set franchise highs for wins, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups. Allen Iverson and the Detroit Pistons slow, grind it out, style of play did not mix. Neither did Coach Curry’s decision to start Rip Hamilton at the 2 instead of Allen for most of last season. It was clear that Iverson would not resign with the Pistons this summer. On September 10, 2009, Iverson signed a 1-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Iverson stated that “God chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career,” and that “I feel that they are committed to developing a winner.” He then played in only 3 games for the Grizzlies. He actually shot a great percentage and looked pretty good, but they played him limited minutes and that didn’t sit well with Allen. So he took a leave of absence from the team and eventually was bought out of his contract on November 19th. After a brief flirtation with the Knicks, Heat, and Celtics, today he has finally called it quits.

When you truly consider Iverson’s small stature at only 6’0″ and 175 lbs, you come to realize that he may be the best pound for pound basketball player this league has ever seen. And if not that, then certainly the best pound for pound scorer. He was a past Rookie of the Year, league Most Valuable Player, 10 time All-star, 4 time Scoring Champion, and his shining moment was leading the surprise Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals in 2001. Even though he was always undersized he still somehow managed to attain the 5th All-time highest career scoring average at 27 points per game. But he wasn’t solely offense. He also lead the league in steals multiple times.

Iverson began his NBA career by being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the #1 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft in an era when undersized Point/Shooting Guards were considered a risk not an asset. But he was that good. He was such a force offensively that you had to pick him first. He dominated the game in the big man era, then he dominated the game in the wingman era. It didn’t matter what style of play, Iverson was the type of player that was fearless and could score on anyone. He also put butts in seats. Besides Tim Hardaway, many people consider Allen Iverson to have been the one who invented/evolved the “Killer Crossover”. He was as exciting a player to watch as anyone i’ve ever seen in the league not named the GOAT. In the early years he would take his mere 6’0″ frame way up and dunk defenders. By mid career he became one of the most fearless slashers the league had ever seen. He had an uncanny knack for getting to the free throw line at a record pace. But throughout his entire career he was one of the most lethal mid-range jump shooters league wide.

We will have more details for you as they unfold, but for now. Let’s put the pettiness aside and just thank Allen Iverson for the excitement that he has provided us as fans of the NBA for 13 years.

**Update** Here is the statement from Allen Iverson on the Stephen A. Smith Website:

Stepping away from the game will allow me to spend quality time with my wife and kids. This is a reward that far exceeds anything that I’ve ever achieved on the basketball court. I have prayed for this day and I see it as my greatest gift.

I want to thank the people of Reebok International Ltd., for always allowing me to be me and for supporting me my whole career through all the ups and downs. I have enjoyed 13 wonderful seasons in the NBA, and I am grateful.

I want to first acknowledge my fans everywhere, who have been with me throughout my entire career. Without you, there would be no me. You should all know that I appreciate your support from the bottom of my heart. Thank you!

To Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley and Larry Bird, you guys gave me the vision to play the game that will be forever in my heart.

To my Mom, who encouraged and inspired me to play every day, and to all of my family and friends who stood by me from the beginning. Thank you!

To my high school coach, Michael Bailey, Coach John Thompson at Georgetown University, Coach Larry Brown and to all of my other coaches, teammates, administrators, owners and staff who’ve been a part of my career, Thank you as well!

I’d like to give a special thanks to the people of Memphis. I never played a home game for your beloved Grizzlies, but I want you to know how much I appreciate the opportunity given me by a great owner in Michael Heisley, and the support of the city. I wish the Memphis Grizzlies’ organization all of the success that the game has to offer.

And finally, to the city of Philadelphia: I have wonderful memories of my days in a Sixers’ uniform. To Philly fans, thank you. Your voice will always be music to my ears.

God Bless all of you,

ALLEN IVERSON

Check out these Top 10 Plays from Allen Iverson throughout his career:

Droppin’ Dimes: Where the Celtics are Discussing Iverson…

‘Droppin’ Dimes’ is a daily list of stories from around the web that The Hoop Doctors are reading, and thinking you might want to check out too! They aren’t necessarily all about hoops, but could be anything from cage fighting, to a gallery of lovely ladies, to a story about proposed legislation to outlaw fat people in Japan (yes this happened).

• Celts fans are saying “make it stop” regarding recent Ainge statements about Iverson. [Celtics Blog]

• I don’t care what anyone says Brandon Roy doing this is disrespectful. [NBA Fanhouse]

• Kevin Durant is Hungry Like a Wolf! [Josh Q Public]

• 10 Backyard Plays for Turkey Bowl this Weekend. [Pigskin Docs]

• NHL Refs Botch Two Goal Calls. At least they aren’t gambling right? [Puck Docs]

• 15 Hottest Women of Dancing with the Stars! [Guyism]

• Coolest Sports Cake Ever! Florida Gators… [The Angry T]

If you have extra time to kill at work and need some more links to cool stories, videos, and photo galleries of the day, then check out Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard Hot Clicks or the legendary Gorilla Mask by clicking on their logo’s below:

Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith Discuss Allen Iverson Situation

We all love NBA on TNT with Kenny, Chuck, and Ernie. Thought you folks may appreciate their recent comments on the Allen Iverson situation. I don’t necessarily agree 100% as I still think Iverson is skilled enough to be a starter on a championship contending team, but still they have a point. He’s currently in a bad situation and he may need to accept a lesser role to get out of that situation and prove himself once again as a dominant scorer.

Kenny Smith discusses Allen Iverson’s future Nov. 19, 2009 from Turner Sports on Vimeo.

Charles Barkley discusses Allen Iverson Nov. 19, 2009 from Turner Sports on Vimeo.

The Spurs Cooking Challenge

Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.

Maybe some of the walking wounded for the San Antonio Spurs can audition for the Iron Chef Show on the Food Network since they have a lot of extra time because of their numerous injuries leading to a dismal 5-6 record this season. Apparently they are trying this idea out, as evidence of this video…………No, not really, but Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Anthony Parker, and the “Iceman” George Gervin are actually in costume as chefs in training as part of a new advertising campaign for HEB Creamy Creations Ice Cream in the San Antonio area. Seeing the “Big Fundamental” dressed as a Jamaican, with dreadlocks to boot, is just plain hilarious. Selecting from a variety of Parker’s French Vanilla Brie, Duncan’s Curry and Sweet Cream, or Ginobili’s chocolate something yuck, would be a tough choice for anyone! Maybe a little more rehab and practice would be time better spent to improve their sub .500 record?

“Hello America, My Name is Wesley Johnson”

“He’s a top five pick”

Five words; that is all it took for a no name transfer from Iowa State to become a top five pick on some internet draft boards.

Jim Boeheim has been saying all summer long how good Wesley Johnson was and the unheralded unknown transfer showed how good he was this past weekend at Madison Square Garden.

The 22-year-old Junior showcased his wide variety of skills when he went for 25 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one block and steal against the defending champion North Carolina Tar Heels.

After the game Boeheim announced Wesley Johnson as a top five pick and also said, “Would I lie? Do I just talk?”

Is Johnson a top five pick?

Well as your draft “expert” for TheHoopDoctors.com I am not buying the Wesley Johnson hype. Understand I have only seen him play once but I refuse to believe this no name transfer from Iowa State is a top five pick because there are rules to being a top five pick.

1. You have to be huge.
2. If you are not huge, you must jump out of the gym.

If you are not a great athlete and are not huge then you are not a top five pick, it is as simple as that. There is never room for a decent G/F prospect with limited potential as Johnson is.

He has a similar body type as Evan Turner and ET also put up stellar numbers against UNC but Turner is a much better prospect due to his ball handling, rebounding, facilitating, and athleticism.

Sure Johnson had a great game or two but no way is this kid belongs in the top five and he will never be drafted that high. When I update my next rankings, Wesley Johnson will be on the list but nowhere near the top five and he will probably not find himself in the lottery.

But remember, I have only seen the kid once and I love when players prove me wrong, because that means they are officially legit.

Early Season MVP Candidates

Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.

Although the NBA season is only a month old, it’s never too early to rank some of the NBA’s leading candidates for the league’s MVP award. Surely the league’s last two winners, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant, who are still at the top of their games will make the list, but where do they rank this season? There may be some surprises that you didn’t expect like a few former MVP winners either just making the list or missing all together. Tell us who we missed or should be ranked higher.

1) Dirk Nowitzki - The ’07 MVP is once again on top of his game. His 27.5 ppg scoring average ranks 7th in the league and is undoubtedly one of the game’s best clutch shooters as evidence of his numerous late game heroics of baskets to either go ahead or win the game. He has led the Mavs to an amazing 10-3 start even though Dallas is stricken with injury woes(Howard and Marion).

2) Steve Nash – The former 2 time MVP winner is having another tremendous season. He has already had 4 games of more than 15 assists and is leading the NBA with a 11.8 average. His stats are eyepopping: 16.9 ppg, 50% from the field, 44% on 3′s, and 93% from the charity stripe. He definitely has been the leading force in the Suns resurgence at 10-3.

3) Kobe Bryant – The “Black Mamba” is again at a top notch level. He is once again leading the league in scoring at 30.2 ppg but is taking more shots and appears to be working to hard to get open as evidence of his 3.3 assists, which is his lowest in years. Even his 3 point shooting is suffering at only 19% this season. Although he has his squad at 9-3, he will need much more help for the Champs to defend their title. Getting back Gasol should ease the scoring load.

4) Carmelo Anthony – Melo warned this off-season that he was going to take it to everyone in the league this season and hasn’t disappointed by scoring at a 29.9 ppg clip. He has been the early season’s most unstoppable offensive weapon. He is hitting 3′s at a respectable 36% and is near .50% from the field. Although the Nuggets have slipped lately(3-4), he still has them among the leaders in the Western Conference(8-4).

5) Dwyane Wade – If this list was made 2 weeks earlier, Wade would have been higher since his Heat have started to come back to Earth by losing 4 of 5 games after a 6-1 start. Wade has been great, averaging 27.6 ppg, with highlight reel dunks and buzzer beaters to boot, but he can be better. You would like to see him make his teammates better, but with Beasley as the only other offensive weapon, I don’t see Wade’s assist numbers going up.

6) Lebron James – The King has been the usual Top 3 players in the league self by putting up numbers like 28.3 ppg, 8.1 assists, and 6.6 rebs, 52% from the field, and 36% from 3 points. With Shaq either disappointing or injured, James has been Cleveland’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd options on offense. He’s at his best when taking the ball to the hoop, but has settled at times for jump-shots. After a slow start, he has the Cavs back to respectability at 9-4.

7) Kevin Durant – Look out for the “Durant-ula” as he is improving on a game by game basis, scoring at a 27.7 ppg clip(5th in NBA). He is out to prove that he and his young OKC squad are among the league’s better teams. Both have done just that behind Durant’s stellar play and the Thunder’s string of impressive wins over many of the league’s top teams(Orlando, SA, Miami). We now know that he is an elite player but he will ultimately be judged by how he makes those around him better.

8 ) Joe Johnson - Many argue that since the Hawks have the league’s best record(11-2) that Johnson should be higher. Although his stats are great(23.6 ppg, 5 reb, and 5 assists), and leads the Hawks in scoring, Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford have equally been key cogs in Atlanta’s success. As long as the Hawks keep winning, his stock will rise.

9) Brandon Jennings - “Young Money” Jennings has been spectacular on both an individual and a team level. We all know about the 55 point explosion, but Jennings has been good all season averaging 24.8 ppg, 6 rebs, 5 assists, while shooting a remarkable 56% on 3′s. More impressive is that he has helped lead the lowly Bucks to a 7-3 record in the early going. He reminds me of an early A.I., but on a winning team.

10) Chris Bosh – Based on shear numbers, Bosh should be one of the favorites since he is 6th in scoring(27 ppg) and 2nd in rebounding(12.2). But his Raptors squad is floundering with a 6-7 record. We all know he is in a contract year and those players always put up big numbers. Since the Raptors made a number of offseason changes to be much improved, Bosh should be leading them to more victories.

Next 5

Chris Paul – Before his injury, Paul would be higher. His numbers are stellar with averages of 23.8 ppg, 9.2 assists, and 2+ steals, which would rank 3rd in the league in both categories. Unfortunately he plays on a sinking ship in New Orleans, amid coaching changes, roster moves, and not too much talent around him.

Brandon Roy – It may be a bit harsh to have Roy so low, but it’s only because of his unlimited potential. He has the Blazers winning(10-5) but his individual stats are below par at 19.9 ppg and 4 assists. It’s early and surely he will be among the top 10 by season’s end.

Kevin Martin – In the season’s first two weeks, not many were better than Martin, who at one point was the league’s leading scorer(30.6 ppg) as the Kings have overachieved with a .500 record. His wrist injury gives him an incomplete.

Gilbert Arenas – Gilbert has been the best player on a disappointing Wizards squad rife with injuries. He has quieted his critics concerning his past injuries by putting numbers like 22.5 pts, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. If the Wiz get healthy and turn their season around, his stock will rise.

Deron Williams – Deron has been the best player on a mediocre Jazz team. His 19.9 ppg is tops on his team while his 9.9 assists is 2nd to only Steve Nash in the NBA. Note to Deron: Forget about dodgeball and pass the ball to Boozer.

Chris Kaman – Don’t laugh, but a Clipper makes my list since Kaman has been arguably one of the top big men in the league so far. His 20.9 ppg and 8.5 rebounds have LA’s other team at 5-9 and desperately trying to hold down the fort until Blake Griffin arrives in 2 weeks.

Notable Exceptions:

Dwight Howard – Many of Howard’s numbers are down from last season(17 ppg and 11 reb) and one could ague that Vince Carter has been the best player on the Magic(10-3) this season. Surely his numbers will go up as the season progresses.

Tim Duncan – The Spurs are struggling(5-6) mainly because of injuries to the big 3. Even Duncan’s numbers are down(17 ppg and 11 reb), as his knees are beginning to creak. When healthy he is still a force down low.

New NBA Rule: All Rookies Must Play Kobe In H-O-R-S-E [VIDEO]

Chip Patterson, recent graduate of University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, writes for TheHoopDoctors.com and BusterSports.com. A lifelong student of the game, he has passionately followed the NBA and College Basketball since C-Webb was calling “Timeout!”.

The Bryant, Barnum, & Bailey Circus welcomed the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday evening to the Staples Center. The Thunder/Sonics, who won 43 games in the last two seasons combined, have finally seen the maturation of their franchise picks from the 2007 NBA Draft, and look to be competitive for a Western Conference playoff spot.

Competitive, however, does not describe their showdown with the Lakers Sunday evening. The Lakers, who have won 11 straight over Oklahoma City, got 26 points and a highlight reel from Kobe on the way to a 101-85 win.

One of my favorite things about the Black Mamba, is his unpredictable choice to turn any regular season game into a jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, “grab the remote and hit rewind” display of basketball.

Last night got started in the first quarter with these two gems. I think Kobe gets a lot of joy out of having rookies guard him.  I think each first rounder, regardless of position, should have to guard Kobe for one quarter during their rookie season. If you have questions why, check the face that Kobe gives Hardin after the shot.

So then about two minutes later, after I am done re-watching the circus shot 5-7 times, Kobe drills this H-O-R-S-E finisher. Here’s how he called it:

“Rebound off a block, 14 foot runner, as time expires, left handed.”

And all of that was just the first quarter.  The glorious Youtubes machine has a 4:25 Kobe highlight from the Thunder game here.

Top 5 Biggest ‘Bad Boys’ of the NBA

R.S. De France is a College and University instructor of English Composition. He has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Writing. One of his life-long pursuits has been writing and covering anything related to sports, specifically the NBA. Recently, De France, his wife, and another colleague started an internationally read magazine at Shwibly.com.

Thursday, November 19th, marked the fifth anniversary of the “Malice in the Palace,” the 2004 brawl between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers. It all started near the end of the fourth quarter in a blowout in favor of the Pacers with a Ron Artest foul on Ben Wallace, which got both teams and the fans enraged. Players pushed back and forth. After a while, Artest laid down on the scorer’s table in the fourth quarter when a fan threw a beer at him. Then, basically it got crazy. Artest raged into the stands, trying to find the drink-thrower. Ben Wallace followed him, as did Stephen Jackson and Eddie Gill. Jackson tried to defend Artest and attack fans as Gill tried to stop him. A while later on the court, Jermaine O’Neil socked a taunting fan in the face. “This brawl resulted in nine players being suspended by the NBA, including Ron Artest (83 games), Stephen Jackson (30), Jermaine O’Neal (15), Ben Wallace (6) and Anthony Johnson (5). Artest’s suspension is the longest in NBA history for an infraction not related to drugs or gambling” (hoopepedia).

The Malice at the Palace

So without further ado, in infamy more than in honor, we count down the most recent Bad Boys of the NBA (since 1979):

5. Dennis Rodman—
• Part of the Piston’s Bad Boys
• One of the greatest physical specimens other than David Robinson
• Numerous off the court incidents
• Spousal Abuse that led to arrest
• published Walk on the Wild Side in 1997
• published Bad as I Wanna Be in 1996

4. Bill Laimbeer—
• Part of the Piston’s Bad Boys
• “He (Laimbeer) was more than a thug, but that’s what he’ll be remembered for.”—Dennis Rodman
• Rough
• Loud mouth
• Physical presence
• He was not afraid to put you on your back and then cry about when it happens to him

3. Ron Artest—
• The ’04 Brawl at the Palace
• Spousal Abuse that led to arrest
• Canine Neglect
• Attitude (on display most recently in the 2009 playoffs against Kobe and the Lakers)

2. Stephen Jackson—
• Participation in the 2004 Brawl
• Charged with Felony Criminal Recklessness
• Charged with Misdemeanors like assault, battery, and disorderly conduct (“Pacers’ Jackson charged with criminal recklessness”)

1. Racheed Wallace—
• He holds the record for most technical fouls in one season (2000-2001, 41)
• In 2008, the Bleacher Report reported Wallace was arrested for holding a plastic knife up to a grocery clerk’s neck when confronted by police over a bologna incident (“Rasheed Wallace Arrested at the Piggly Wiggly”).
• The infamous pull-over by law enforcement in Oregon with marijuana in the car
• An infamous on-air tirade: “All that bullshit-ass calls they had out there. With Mike [Callahan] and Kenny [Mauer] — you’ve all seen that shit, ” Wallace said. “You saw them calls. The cats are flopping all over the floor and they’re calling that shit. That shit ain’t basketball out there. It’s all fucking entertainment. You all should know that shit. It’s all fucking entertainment.” (“Fines Will be Imposed in Cases of Clear Flopping”).

*Despite the Bad Boy-type images these guys have, the NBA counter-balances this by requiring them to provide community service.  By reputation, Jackson and Artest give back a lot to their respective communities.*

Someone Finally Says ‘No’ To Lebron

Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.

Situated directly across from the Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, there is a gigantic billboard featuring Lebron James and their now famous Witness campaign which was so wildly popular that Nike printed up and sold thousands of T-Shirts worldwide because of the demand. That was a few years ago, as Nike and the city of Cleveland both agreed to create a new add campaign featuring the NBA’s most marketable star. There is only one problem. The new billboard was rejected by Cleveland because Nike failed to include the Cavaliers in the newest version.

In the two original Witness billboards, Lebron is front and center as expected, wearing a Cavs jersey and either dunking or doing his now famous “Chalk Clap.” The newest edition would have James shirt-less, holding a ball, with the words Prepare for Combat as the new theme. City officials felt that the mural didn’t reference the Cavs home city and that any campaign that involves combat or battle is offensive to the soldiers currently oversees fighting for our country.

What is the big deal? It sounds like the city of Cleveland has had their feathers ruffled over the prospect of their meal ticket(James) leaving for another city this offseason. The rumor is that James is somehow involved or had some input in the campaign as a sort of tip off as to where or if he is going elsewhere.  This comes after James allegedly stole the video footage of getting dunked on by a University of Memphis player. 

If you want to know my opinion on where James will wind up:

 

Nate Robinson Scores On Wrong Basket [Video]

When two of the worst teams in the NBA meet, you are sure to seem some pretty horrible basketball. The New York Knicks vs. the New Jersey Nets game this weekend was certainly no exception. Poor New York basketball fans. It’s like watching a really bad movie, or even a bad car accident on the highway. You want to just get up and walk/look away but it is sooo bad you just can’t bring yourself to do it.

Little Nate ‘Kryptonate’ Robinson of the Knicks wasn’t helping matters much before the buzzer by scoring on a three point shot off the inbounds on his own basket!! Coach Mike D’Antoni lost his mind, and for good reason. The look on Nate Robinson’s face afterwards was priceless. “What did I do? Who me?”

Classic move Nate. Even though the Knicks won the game, you reminded the world, in a game between two heavyweights like the Knicks and Nets, nobody wins:

(H/T to Ball Don’t Lie where we saw the video embed)

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