With the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame recently inducting former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen into their hallowed halls of greatness, what better time to give one of the NBA’s Top 50 Players of All Time his very own multi-part, weekly Player Rewind Series. Scottie was the antithesis of the 5 tool player with supreme abilities to handle the rock, score when needed, or play lock-down defense on virtually any player on the floor. Although he will forever be labeled a “sidekick” to the great Michael Jordan in their magnificent run in winning 6 NBA Titles, Scottie was undoubtedly a great man on and off the court from his humble beginnings in Hamburg, Arkansas to Olympic Gold Medalist, and eventually as a standard of greatness that many players of today’s game continue to strive for. Hopefully this series will serve to educate the youngsters about one of the greatest defensive players ever, while at the same time helping to reminisce on just how spectacular a player the man know as “Pip” really was.

Part 6 – Post Chicago Bulls Era

While many of us chose to remember Scottie as one of the vaunted members of the 6 Time World Champion Chicago Bulls or a 2 Time Gold Medal winning contributor for USA Basketball, he did go on to play another 6 seasons with Houston, Portland, and a return trip back to Chicago, which ws cut short due to injuries.

He teamed with Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley to help take the Rockets to the Playoffs, but lost to eventual champion LA Lakers in the first round. In his 4 seasons in Portland, he became more of a facilitator, rather than scorer and helped lead them all the way to the Western Finals in 2000, only to lose once again to the Lakers.

When it comes to the post-season, Pippen was a mainstay, helping to lead his club to the Playoffs for 16 straight seasons(11 Chicago, 1 Houston, 4 Portland) and ranks 3rd all-time in Playoff games played behind only Robert Horry and the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.  Immediately after retirement Scottie attempted to work as an on-air analyst for the Bulls as well as a stint as a studio analyst for NBA on ABC and ESPN.

In December of 2005, the Chicago Bulls retired Scottie’s #33:

In January of 2008, Scottie once again got the itch to play and made a comeback overseas when at age 42, he played 4 games total for teams in Finland and Sweden:

Then amidst financial problems, Scottie decided to star in a short film titled Midgets vs. Mascots, where as you can figure out,……….Scottie gets beat up by midgets:

Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania.  Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.

With the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame recently inducting former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen into their hallowed halls of greatness, what better time to give one of the NBA’s Top 50 Players of All Time his very own multi-part, weekly Player Rewind Series.  Scottie was the antithesis of the 5 tool player with supreme abilities to handle the rock, score when needed, or play lock-down defense on virtually any player on the floor. Although he will forever be labeled a “sidekick” to the great Michael Jordan in their magnificent run in winning 6 NBA Titles, Scottie was undoubtedly a great man on and off the court from his humble beginnings in Hamburg, Arkansas to Olympic Gold Medalist, and eventually as a standard of greatness that many players of today’s game continue to strive for. Hopefully this series will serve to educate the youngsters about one of the greatest defensive players ever, while at the same time helping to reminisce on just how spectacular a player the man know as “Pip” really was.

Part 5 – The Commercials

The age old issue remains of whether playing alongside the G.O.A.T – Michael Jordan actually helped or hurt Scottie Pippen’s career. Even though it was doubtful that Pippen would have won 6 World Titles, one area that definitely helped being paired professionally with perhaps the most marketable NBA player of all-time in Jordan was the relm of commercials and endorsements. While we’ve already covered some of the many shoes Pippen sported in Part 4, let’s take a look at some of his more memorable commercials and endorsements he started to accumulate towards the middle and latter parts of his career.

One of the first commercials to feature Pippen, along with good friend and fellow Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, circa 1992, was this cheesy ad for Coca-Cola where Barkley and Pippen play a game of one-on-one. I remember it mostly for Pippen’s amazing accuracy when shooting a quarter right into the vending machine coin slot and it then spitting out 2 bottles of Coke (that and Barkley being in great shape).

Also in ‘92, Pippen started to appear in some pretty horrible sneaker ads like this one for the Nike Air Flight II’s. It was a spoof on the old black-and-white Twilight Zone television show, where Scottie continuously dunks over nerdy white guys in glasses titled “Time Warp.”

In 1997, Scottie teamed with Grant Hill, then of the Detroit Pistons to make this adorable McDonald’s commercial with children, to hock their famous Chicken McNuggets (which were only $2.99 for a 20 piece):

Of course, like all big time athletes, Scottie eventually got his very own chance to tell the world that “Anything less would be uncivilized” for this Right Guard ad in ‘98.

But my favorite has to be this spot where Pippen teamed up with Hakeem Olajuwon for a VISA Gold Card ad where the Dream Team was in Spain for the ‘92 Olympics. After Olajuwon offers to “treat” all other competing teams for lunch, Scottie shows some comic relief by informing the Dream they were only supposed to “meet” for lunch. Pippen’s expression makes the whole video watch-able.

Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania.  Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.

With the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame recently inducting former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen into their hallowed halls of greatness, what better time to give one of the NBA’s Top 50 Players of All Time his very own multi-part, weekly Player Rewind Series. Scottie was the antithesis of the 5 tool player with supreme abilities to handle the rock, score when needed, or play lock-down defense on virtually any player on the floor. Although he will forever be labeled a “sidekick” to the great Michael Jordan in their magnificent run in winning 6 NBA Titles, Scottie was undoubtedly a great man on and off the court from his humble beginnings in Hamburg, Arkansas to Olympic Gold Medalist, and eventually as a standard of greatness that many players of today’s game continue to strive for. Hopefully this series will serve to educate the youngsters about one of the greatest defensive players ever, while at the same time helping to reminisce on just how spectacular a player the man know as “Pip” really was.

Part 4 – The Shoes

Although Scottie’s partner in crime Michael Jordan, will always be remembered for the shoes that now bear his namesake, Pippen also had quite a collection of kicks that he wore over his illustrious career. A longtime supporter of Nike, Scottie almost single-handedly helped promote the Nike Flight series of basketball shoes throughout his early career. While Nike seemingly only focused on Jordan, they didn’t concentrate on giving Pippen his own signature shoe until the latter part of his career, appropriately called the “Air Pippen’s.”

Check out Scottie’s commercial spot for his first signature shoe – the Air Pippen I’s circa 1998:

Check out a chronological history of some of Scottie’s more memorable shoes:

1989 – Nike Air Flight

While sporting these kicks early in his career, Pippen became the Bulls starter at SF and earned his first nod as an NBA All Defensive Team selection.

1992 – Nike Air Flight II

In ‘92, Pippen wore these Air Flight II’s while helping the Bulls win their 2nd Championship and even showed them off internationally as part of the original “Dream Team,” helping to win his first of 2 Gold Medals.

1994 – Nike Air Maestro II

Pippen now famously sported these red Air Maestro’s in winning the ‘94 All Star Game MVP. He established career highs in ppg, steals, and rebounding during this time, with MJ off attempting to play baseball.

1996 – Nike Air More Uptempo

Even though he would later get his own signature shoe, these Air More Uptempo’s became Pip’s most popular shoes by fans, primarily for the giant letters spelling “AIR” on both sides. While wearing these shoes, Pippen became the first player to win both an NBA Championship and Gold Medal in the same season twice.

1999 – Nike Air Pippen II

After finally getting his own shoe, Scottie helped the Bulls finish off their second 3-peat and was named to the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players list. Teammate Michael Jordan once again rode off into the sunset, as Scottie began his Houston Rockets career.

2003 – Nike Zoom Flight 2K3

Over his final season in Portland and his return to Chicago in ‘03, which was cut short due to injury, Pippen wore these Zoom Flight 2K3‘s as he dished out his 6,000th assist, played in his 1,000th game, and passed Elgin Baylor for 8th place on the NBA’s All Time Career Playoff Scoring list.

Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania.   Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com,Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.

With the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame recently inducting former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen into their hallowed halls of greatness, what better time to give one of the NBA’s Top 50 Players of All Time his very own multi-part, weekly Player Rewind Series. Scottie was the antithesis of the 5 tool player with supreme abilities to handle the rock, score when needed, or play lock-down defense on virtually any player on the floor. Although he will forever be labeled a “sidekick” to the great Michael Jordan in their magnificent run in winning 6 NBA Titles, Scottie was undoubtedly a great man on and off the court from his humble beginnings in Hamburg, Arkansas to Olympic Gold Medalist, and eventually as a standard of greatness that many players of today’s game continue to strive for. Hopefully this series will serve to educate the youngsters about one of the greatest defensive players ever, while at the same time helping to reminisce on just how spectacular a player the man know as “Pip” really was.

Part 3 – The Dunks

While most fans remember “Pip” for his amazing all around game, one skill that went under the radar and was a truly underrated aspect to his game was his thunderous dunking ability. Maybe it was because he played alongside perhaps the greatest high flyer to ever play the game(MJ), or just that Scottie was a tad taller and longer than Jordan, making his dunks appear less spectacular than that of “Air Jordan.” But if you were an opposing player during the 90‘s and early 00‘s, many would just clear the lane on a Scottie Pippen drive to the basket, in fear of being jammed on or being victimized on his latest poster dunk.

Thanks to some amazingly long arms, Scottie was known for his scintillating one-handed jams, most of which, of the in your face variety. Probably his most famous facial came at the expense of fellow HOF’er Patrick Ewing of the NY Knicks, during Game 6 of the ‘94 Eastern Semi-Finals. Watch as he jams in Ewings face, stands over him as a punctuation mark, and even points and taunts Spike Lee sitting courtside.

This dunk usually ranks in the Top 10 of everyone’s best all-time Playoff dunks:

Check out Scottie’s amazing “Free Throw Line Dunk” in the 1990 NBA Dunk Contest, where he unbelievably did not receive a perfect score even though his foot was clearly behind the line at take-off. In Jordan’s now famous Free Throw Line Dunk, he received a perfect “50“ even though he was over the line by about a foot. Just sayin…….

Even the “Mailman”, Karl Malone wasn’t immune to being posterized by Pippen in ‘97:

Check out a video of Scottie Pippen’s Top 10 All Time Dunks:

Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania.  Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.

With the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame recently inducting former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen into their hallowed halls of greatness, what better time to give one of the NBA’s Top 50 Players of All Time his very own multi-part, weekly Player Rewind Series. Scottie was the antithesis of the 5 tool player with supreme abilities to handle the rock, score when needed, or play lock-down defense on virtually any player on the floor. Although he will forever be labeled a “sidekick” to the great Michael Jordan in their magnificent run in winning 6 NBA Titles, Scottie was undoubtedly a great man on and off the court from his humble beginnings in Hamburg, Arkansas to Olympic Gold Medalist, and eventually as a standard of greatness that many players of today’s game continue to strive for. Hopefully this series will serve to educate the youngsters about one of the greatest defensive players ever, while at the same time helping to reminisce on just how spectacular a player the man know as “Pip” really was.

Part Two – Early NBA Career(‘97-’00)

While many fans originally questioned the Chicago Bulls making the trade for Pippen after the ‘87 NBA Draft, it didn’t take long for their sentiments to change as Scottie, along with another promising young prospect named Horace Grant eventually became the perfect compliments to Michael Jordan’s all-worldly game. But considering Scottie made it to the NBA the hard way, via an NAIA school, he progressed slowly as he adjusted to the speed of the NBA game. Even though his offensive output increased in each of his first three seasons, they were marred by inconsistencies in his jump shot and a battle with migraines that kept him sidelined during the latter stages of the post-season. Playing alongside MJ, the NBA’s most fearless competitor, Pippen first earned league-wide respect as an elite level defender, as he displaced Brad Sellers as the starting SF by the end of the ’88 season. By the turn of the century(2000), Scottie had begun to open some eyes around the league by proving to not only be a supporting player, but as a burgeoning superstar in his own right, by finishing in the Top 3 in steals and earning his first of 7 NBA All Star Selections in the ’99-’00 season.

Check out former Bull Charles Oakley showing incoming rookie Scottie Pippen who’s boss in early ’87:

Here is some footage of Scottie’s first career start vs the Cavs in the ‘88 Playoffs. He made the most of the opportunity by scoring 24 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists as he helped the Bulls close out the Mark Price led Cavaliers.

Check out a great recap of the ‘90 Eastern Conference Finals won by the Detroit Pistons, where Scottie Pippen now famously sat out part of the decisive Game 7 because of migraines(or was it Rodman and Laimbeer’s defense?). Many fans still speculate that if Scottie would have played, maybe the Bulls would have went on to play in the Finals.

Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania.  Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.

With the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame recently inducting former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen into their hallowed halls of greatness, what better time to give one of the NBA’s Top 50 Players of All Time his very own multi-part, weekly Player Rewind Series. Scottie was the antithesis of the 5 tool player with supreme abilities to handle the rock, score when needed, or play lock-down defense on virtually any player on the floor. Although he will forever be labeled a “sidekick” to the great Michael Jordan in their magnificent run in winning 6 NBA Titles, Scottie was undoubtedly a great man on and off the court from his humble beginnings in Hamburg, Arkansas, to winning an Olympic Gold Medal, and eventually as a standard of greatness that many players of today’s game continue to strive for. Hopefully this series will serve to educate the youngsters about one of the greatest defensive players ever, while at the same time helping to reminisce on just how spectacular a player the man know as “Pip” really was.

Part One – High School and College Years

Before receiving all of the accolades of winning 6 World Titles, 7 All Star Game Appearances, and 10 NBA All Defensive Team Selections, Scottie was a skinny, uncoordinated young man growing up in Hamburg, Arkansas. He was one of twelve siblings to mother and father Preston and Ethel Pippen, all of which were dogged by poverty after his father suffered a debilitating stroke during Scottie’s freshman year in high school. Partly because of underwhelming size, Scottie played basketball on a recreational level until his sophomore year when he finally made the school team and doubled as the football team manager. He was unable to attract any attention from local colleges, mostly because of his diminutive 6’1 and 150 lb frame as a HS senior. This is where Scottie’s career as one of the future greats of the NBA almost ended before it even began.

It wasn’t until his HS coach called in a favor to a friend at the tiny University of Central Arkansas, where Scottie could hopefully continue to play, while earning a stipend as team manager, in addition to working at a factory job to continue to earn money to college. After showing his skills in practice as a freshman, along with growing a few more inches, Scottie was fortunately awarded a scholarship for his sophomore season and evolved into one of Central Arkansas’ best players, even averaging 23.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists as a senior. Partly because the school was still classified as a NAIA program, Scottie’s stock as a player still wasn’t on the national level until he showcased his amazing all around skills at the Portsmouth College All Star Event in the Spring of ’87, where Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause took notice and thought Pippen could be an excellent complimentary piece to play alongside a certain rising young player he already had on his NBA roster named Michael Jordan.

Afraid that another franchise would grab the still under the radar star in the making, Krause made a trade that unknown to him, changed the landscape of the NBA for the next 2 decades as he acquired Pippen, who was originally the #5 overall selection of the Seattle Supersonics in the ’87 NBA Draft.

Check out some vintage footage of Pippen being selected by Seattle in the 1987 Draft:

Back in January of 2010 the University of Central Arkansas retired his #33 Jersey:

Check out some great footage from early on  in Scottie’s HS and NCAA career:

Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania.  Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.

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.

Many of us here at The Hoop Doctors are diehard fans of “The Answer” Allen Iverson.  In my mind he is pound-for-pound, one of the best players in NBA history, and is quite possibly the best player 6’0 and under this league has ever seen(with all due respect to Nate “Tiny” Archibald).  In this generation, their has never been a player who wore their heart on their sleave, whether good or bad, like Iverson.  Once he finally decides to hang it up, Allen will undoubtedly be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer as the Sixers will surely make sure that no other player ever wears his signature #3 jersey again.  Now that he has just retired un-retired and gone back to Philadelphia where it all started, what better time to honor the original A.I., Allen Iverson with his very own multi-part Player Rewind Series, featuring some hidden gems caught on video showcasing “The Answer’s” biggest and best moments in his HS, NCAA, and NBA career.

Part Seven – The Press Conferences

Allen has always been good for a great sound byte or quote, since he never holds back and lets everyone know just exactly how he feels. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes not. With the Sixers, he never was shy about opening up and letting his emotions flow, whether it was criticizing his coaching staff or the officials. In this segment we will take a look back at some of A.I.’s most memorable press conferences. Allen will be enlightening us on practice, his relationship with Michael Jackson, and why he came back to Philly.

We Talking Bout Practice

A.I. Talks About His Relationship With Michael Jackson at his ’01 MVP Speech

Iverson Gets Emotional Upon His Return To Philadelphia

Allen Cries When Talking About His Life While Speaking to Some Students

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.

Many of us here at The Hoop Doctors are diehard fans of “The Answer” Allen Iverson.  In my mind he is pound-for-pound, one of the best players in NBA history, and is quite possibly the best player 6’0 and under this league has ever seen(with all due respect to Nate “Tiny” Archibald).  In this generation, their has never been a player who wore their heart on their sleave, whether good or bad, like Iverson.  Once he finally decides to hang it up, Allen will undoubtedly be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer as the Sixers will surely make sure that no other player ever wears his signature #3 jersey again.  Now that he has just retired un-retired and gone back to Philadelphia where it all started, what better time to honor the original A.I., Allen Iverson with his very own multi-part Player Rewind Series, featuring some hidden gems caught on video showcasing “The Answer’s” biggest and best moments in his HS, NCAA, and NBA career.

Part Six – Killer Crossover Victims

One single move is synonymous with Allen Iverson when discussing his offensive prowess: The Crossover Dribble. Many feel that the NBA changed their interpretation of the palming and carry violations in the late 90′s directly because of A.I.’s unstoppable crossover dribble move. A player knows that he is one of the league’s all time dynamic players when the NBA alters rules specifically because of one player( a la Wilt Chamberlain). While Tim Hardaway may have possessed a similar move, Iverson’s was undoubtedly more difficult to defend because of his lightning quick speed and first step which enabled Iverson to get past his defender with ease. Around the league, the move has become legendary since many of the game’s greats have succumbed to Iverson’s signature move. 

 Check out a sampling of some of A.I.’s best victims: 

 Iverson vs Steve Nash(’96 Rookie Year)

Allen Iverson Crosses Michael Jordan(’97)

Iverson vs Jacques Vaughn(’05)

Iverson Breaks Gilbert Arenas Ankles(’06)

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.

Many of us here at The Hoop Doctors are diehard fans of “The Answer” Allen Iverson.  In my mind he is pound-for-pound, one of the best players in NBA history, and is quite possibly the best player 6’0 and under this league has ever seen(with all due respect to Nate “Tiny” Archibald).  In this generation, their has never been a player who wore their heart on their sleave, whether good or bad, like Iverson.  Once he finally decides to hang it up, Allen will undoubtedly be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer as the Sixers will surely make sure that no other player ever wears his signature #3 jersey again.  Now that he has just retired un-retired and gone back to Philadelphia where it all started, what better time to honor the original A.I., Allen Iverson with his very own multi-part Player Rewind Series, featuring some hidden gems caught on video showcasing “The Answer’s” biggest and best moments in his HS, NCAA, and NBA career.

Part Five – All Star Game MVP

While many players are superstars and are annually chosen to participate in the NBA All Star Game, a very select few can excel above and beyond all the other great players and become an All Star Game MVP. Iverson was such a special talent that he accomplished this feat twice in his career.

In winning his first All Star Game MVP in that magical 2001 season for both the Sixers and Iverson, he lit up the scoreboards for 25 points, with 15 of them coming in the 4th quarter, in leading the East to a huge comeback win. The most memorable moment has to be after the game when David Stern hands A.I. the trophy and the first thing Iverson asks for is his coach, Larry Brown.

In winning his 2nd MVP Award in ’05, A.I. was again the best player on the floor by dropping 15 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals. The event was held in Denver, where Iverson would be traded nearly one year later.

Although he didn’t win the MVP Award, the ’03 All Star Game was probably Iverson’s best statistically when he dropped 35 points. The award went to Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, who dropped 37 points. But we all will undoubtedly remember the game as Michael Jordan’s last All Star Game. Iverson gave up his starting spot on the East squad to honor MJ.

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.

Many of us here at The Hoop Doctors are diehard fans of “The Answer” Allen Iverson.  In my mind he is pound-for-pound, one of the best players in NBA history, and is quite possibly the best player 6’0 and under this league has ever seen(with all due respect to Nate “Tiny” Archibald).  In this generation, their has never been a player who wore their heart on their sleave, whether good or bad, like Iverson.  Once he finally decides to hang it up, Allen will undoubtedly be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer as the Sixers will surely make sure that no other player ever wears his signature #3 jersey again.  Now that he has just retired un-retired and gone back to Philadelphia where it all started, what better time to honor the original A.I., Allen Iverson with his very own multi-part Player Rewind Series, featuring some hidden gems caught on video showcasing “The Answer’s” biggest and best moments in his HS, NCAA, and NBA career.

Part Four – Scoring Machine

Very few players in the history of the NBA were able to put points up on the scoreboard like Allen Iverson. Before this season started, he ranked 5th All Time in Career Scoring Average at 27 ppg and is currently 2nd among active players behind Lebron James(27.6 ppg), which places him in elite company alongside Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West, among the game’s most prolific scorers.  He has a career high of 60 points scored in a game(’05) and has reached the century mark an amazing 6 times in his career, not including playoffs. He has also won 4 NBA scoring titles and even topped the 50 point plateau twice in one playoff series in 2001, against Vince Carter and the Raptors. Let’s take a look at some of his highest scoring games:

Iverson Scores Career High 60 points vs Orlando(’05)

 
Iverson Sets Sixers Playoff Record 55 Points vs New Orleans(’03)

 
Iverson 48 points – Game 1 of ’01 NBA Finals vs Lakers

 
Iverson Sets 2 Olympic Qualifying Records: Hits 7 Three Point Shots in 3rd Quarter and Scores 28 Points vs Canada(’04)

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.

Many of us here at The Hoop Doctors are diehard fans of “The Answer” Allen Iverson.  In my mind he is pound-for-pound, one of the best players in NBA history, and is quite possibly the best player 6’0 and under that this league has ever seen(with all due respect to Nate “Tiny” Archibald).  In this generation, their has never been a player who wore their heart on their sleave, whether good or bad, like Iverson.  Once he finally decides to hang it up, Allen will undoubtedly be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer as the Sixers will surely make sure that no other player ever wears his signature #3 jersey again.  Now that he has just retired un-retired and gone back to Philadelphia where it all started, what better time to honor the original A.I., Allen Iverson with his very own multi-part Player Rewind Series, featuring some hidden gems caught on video showcasing “The Answer’s” biggest and best moments in his HS, NCAA, and NBA career.

Part Two – NBA Rookie of the Year

After winning a gold medal in the ’95 World University Games alongside future NBA talents like Ray Allen, Kerry Kittles, and Austin Croshere, Iverson decided prior to his sophomore season, to forego his final 2 years at Georgetown and enter the NBA Draft. Iverson is one of only 2 players to leave the Hoyas early for the NBA Draft(Victor Page). His immediate impact around the league was evident as he had one of the better rookie seasons in the 90′s by putting up 23.5 ppg, 7.5 ast, 4.1 rebs, 2.1 stl, and shot .341% from 3 in earning the ’96 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Iverson Is Selected #1 Overall in the ’96 NBA Draft

 In a loaded NBA Draft which included Kobe Bryant, Stephon Marbury, and Steve Nash, Allen immediately established himself as the undisputed best player in the class by putting up 30 points and 6 assists(along with his first NBA dunk at 1:53 in the video) against fellow rookie Ray Allen and the Bucks in his first NBA game.

 Iverson’s First game As a Sixer

Iverson was a scoring machine in his rookie campaign. He even set a record that even the great Wilt Chamberlain couldn’t accomplish: scoring 40 or more points in 4 straight games.

Every young gun in their rookie season, like Iverson, wants to take it to the game’s best players to prove that they belong. A.I. was no different as he wasted no time going right after Michael Jordan, showing the GOAT his infamous killer crossover and nailing a jumper from the free throw line.

Check out a great video biography of A.I.’s Rookie of the Year Season

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.

Many of us here at The Hoop Doctors are diehard fans of “The Answer” Allen Iverson.  In my mind he is pound-for-pound, one of the best players in NBA history, and is quite possibly the best player 6’0 and under this league has ever seen(with all due respect to Nate “Tiny” Archibald).  In this generation, their has never been a player who wore their heart on their sleave, whether good or bad, like Iverson.  Once he finally decides to hang it up, Allen will undoubtedly be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer as the Sixers will surely make sure that no other player ever wears his signature #3 jersey again.  Now that he has just retired un-retired and gone back to Philadelphia where it all started, what better time to honor the original A.I., Allen Iverson with his very own multi-part Player Rewind Series, featuring some hidden gems caught on video showcasing “The Answer’s” biggest and best moments in his HS, NCAA, and NBA career.

Part Two – Georgetown University

After his senior season at Mt Bethel HS in Virginia, Allen Iverson received a full scholarship to Georgetown University. While the school was known as a Big East powerhouse with some of the best big men in NCAA and NBA history playing for Coach John Thompson like Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, and Alonzo Mourning, the school couldn’t pass up bringing a player as talented as “Bubbachuck” to Washington D.C. Iverson chose to play for Thompson rather than the University since Thompson had become a mentor and father figure to the young Iverson.

On the court, Iverson was one of the fastest players in the NCAA. In his freshman season(’95), he exploded in Big East play by averaging 20.4 ppg and 4.5 assists as well as leading the conference in steals. He was named Big East Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, as he led his Hoyas to a 22-10 record as they advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. His sophomore season was even better, as Iverson, with his trademark blue cut-off t-shirt exposed under his grey Hoya jersey took his game to the highest level as one of the nation’s top scorers(25 ppg), assist men(4.7 ast), and again led the conference in steals. He received even more accolades after leading his squad to a 29-8 regular season mark and to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tourney. He was named as a 1st Team All American and was again the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. It was in the Tournament where Allen became a national star by averaging nearly 28 ppg in his 2 seasons at Georgetown.

 Check out an A.I. College Years Mix at Georgetown:

Check out a matchup of Ray Allen(UCONN) vs Allen Iverson(GU):

 Check out A.I.’s Reverse Ally Oop Dunk in College:

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.

Many of us here at The Hoop Doctors are diehard fans of “The Answer” Allen Iverson. In my mind he is pound-for-pound, one of the best players in NBA history, and is quite possibly the best player 6’0 and under that this league has ever seen(with all due respect to Nate “Tiny” Archibald). In this generation, their has never been a player who wore their heart on their sleave, whether good or bad, like Iverson. Once he finally decides to hang it up, Allen will undoubtedly be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer as the Sixers will surely make sure that no other player ever wears his signature #3 jersey again. Now that he has just retired un-retired and gone back to Philadelphia where it all started, what better time to honor the original “A.I.”, Allen Iverson with his very own multi-part Player Rewind Series, featuring some hidden gems caught on video showcasing “The Answer’s” biggest and best moments in his HS, NCAA, and NBA career.
 

Part One – The Beginning at Mt Bethel HS

As a young man growing up in Hampton Beach, Virginia, Allen Ezail Iverson excelled at both football, as a star quarterback, defensive back, and combo guard as the BMOC at Mount Bethel High. It is a well known fact that most people though he should continue his pursuit of an NFL career instead of basketball since he had numerous scholarship offers on the gridiron.  As a skill set, he could have been the first Michael Vick prototype, with his ability to both pass and run with the pigskin.

Check out some footage of Iverson on the football field:

On the hardwood, no matter who his squad was playing, “Bubbachuck” as he came to be known was seemingly always the best player on the floor. High School is where he first honed his signature “Killer Crossover” trademark move. Whether he was breaking ankles( like my boy Anklesnap), scoring in buckets, or dunking over everyone, Iverson was so dominant that he became one of the most sought after recruits in the nation, who was eventually reeled in by Coach John Thompson at Georgetown.

Check out the trademark Crossovers and highlight reel dunks at Mt Bethel in ’93:

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 blog, Hoops Haven .

We here at The Hoop Doctors are big fans of Kobe Bryant’s game. He is the total package, elite scorer, supreme defender, and proven winner. The NBA’s current overall best player in the game. Although he has nothing left to prove, his drive and desire to succeed is among the league’s best. In this final entry in the multi-part series we will take a look back at some hidden gems caught on video showcasing some of the “Black Mama’s” biggest and best moments in his HS and NBA career.

Part Eight – The Commercials

Outside of “King James“, one would be hard pressed to find a more marketable NBA superstar than Kobe Bryant. Off of the court, he has been the preferred pitchman for numerous products over his career. His image is seemingly plastered everywhere while appearing on television, internet, and magazine adds. Whether it is shoes, fast food commercials, or for the NBA itself, Kobe, just like Jordan before him, is the current face of professional basketball. Check out my picks for some of his best commercials:

One of my favorite Kobe commercials is probably one of his most famous, and most viewed, from a few years ago when he supposedly jumped over a speeding car for a Nike Hyperizer shoe commercial. Some viewers still claim that this is real.

Kobe made everyone laugh when he did the ‘Ankle Insurance’ bit

Kobe even made a guest appearance on Jackass where he jumps over a pool of “Black Mamba” snakes

Kobe along with A-Rod, Michael Phelps, and Tony Hawk in a Guitar Hero World Tour Commercial

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 blog, Hoops Haven .

We here at Hoopdoctors are big fans of Kobe Bryant’s game. He is the total package, elite scorer, supreme defender, and proven winner. The NBA’s current overall best player in the game. Although he has nothing left to prove, his drive and desire to succeed is among the league’s best. In this new multi-part series we will take a look back at some hidden gems caught on video showcasing some of the “Black Mamba’s” biggest and best moments in his HS and NBA career.

Part Seven – 60 Point Scoring Games

Few players in the history of the game have the offensive skill set to score 60 or more points in a game. In the modern era, Kobe and Jordan have proven to be the most lethal offensive weapons the NBA has seen since Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor in the early days of the league. Although Jordan has had more high scoring games in terms of sheer numbers, Kobe has one up on “His Airness” with his 81 point game in 2006, which ranks 2nd All Time behind Wilt’s 100 points in 1962. Even though he has won only one scoring title, he has averaged 20+ ppg in 10 of his 13 seasons and has the 9th highest single season scoring average in history when he hit for a 35.4 ppg clip in ’05-’06. He has 5 scoring games of 60 points or more, including a 65 point game against Portland, and a 62 point game against Dallas, in which he only played the first three quarters, and a 61 point game against the Knicks, which set the record as the highest scoring game in Madison Square Garden history. Here is some footage of Kobe’s highest scoring games:

Watch all 81 of Kobe’ points in his 81 point game:

Kobe scores 65 points vs Portland in 2007:

Kobe sets MSG record with 61 points:

Watch Kobe become only the 2nd player to ever score 50+ points four games in a row: