Does the Ray Allen Situation make you look at Allen Iverson differently??

[greg683x]

Allen Iverson has been basically black balled from the NBA bc of his constant whining and protesting about having to come off the bench and not doing something for the good of the team, and just because of his gigantic ego as well.

When Ray Allen passed the torch to Avery Bradley and seemingly took going to the bench like a man, I remember thinking, thats how it's done, thats how a true professional and team player acts.


Now Iversons antics dont seem too out of this world.  Now, before I go too far, Ray Allen didn't throw a gigantic tantrum in the middle of the season that would have become a constant distraction during a crucial late season push.  He didn't leave the team, he didnt pout, and wouldn't let you know anything was ever bothering him.  However, now he is throwing a tantrum, he has left the team, he IS pouting, and will complain about it to anyone that'll listen.  This is the last guy on the Celtics I would have guessed that would have had a gigantic ego that would interfere with the overall good of the team.  Hell, when the big three all came here in 2008, we all knew there was a chance egos could clash and cause some trouble, but I think most of us would have guessed it would have been Pierce, and it would have been before the team came together, before all the Ubuntu.  Now while theyre about to make their victory lap after winning a ring and rounding out their careers. 

I'm just looking back at the Allen Iverson situation a little differently now, I still hate the guy, I'm glad hes out of the NBA, but I cant help but think now for as much as we were treating Iverson like he was some devil from another planet, the rest of the NBA, or most of it at least, is just like him. 

[indeedproceed]

I don't they're really apples to apples situations. Allen Iverson was blackballed for a few reasons, his ego among them, but not alone. His history as a cancer, other players perceptions of him, his deteriorating play, other owners' perceptions of him, Stern's perceptions, lots of stuff.

Ray Allen just felt disrespected, and went to another team.

[crimson_stallion]

No, two wrongs don't make a right so Allen's childish awhining doesn't suddenly justify Iverson doing the same.

When Allen left us initially I actually still had some degree of respect for him - sure I was cut that he was going to the Heat of all people, but I always saw him as a good guy and a pure professional and so I still respected him.

The more I hear about him though, the more respect I lose for him. 

Basketball for these guys is a business.  You don't leave your work, go over to a competitor, and then publically bad mouth the last place you worked at.  It's childish, it's unprofessional and no other company would ever want to hire you afterwards. 

Clearly the 'ultimate professional' is anything but. 

[Mazingerz]

what changed in me was that in reality Judas was more of a media and control freak and not a classy (i don't know who coined the term for him and I don't like it used for him) person.

He is a Diva pure and simple. He wanted the limelight and to be loved by the media. He is now joining a team full of divas and their loyal pansies. I think he wants to be a diva as well, but in the end will end up as a pansy as well.

[Roy H.]

Ray went to the bench in Boston without complaining.  He signed with Miami to be a bench player, without complaining.  Those are two things Iverson never did.

[moiso]

Iverson quit on like the last three teams that gave him a shot.  Ray always showed up and did his job. 

Ray always blended his skills with his teams and made his teams better.  Iverson was out for himself and despite huge numbers, I don't think he actually made any teams better.

Ray eventually played solid defense.  Iverson let opposing players do whatever they wanted when he was on the defensive side of the ball.

Ray practiced and played like a professional.  Not Iverson.

Ray should have said a little less in the last couple months, but he's nowhere near the problem Iverson has been.

[wdleehi]

No.


AI quit on teams to the point where teams waived him.



Ray never quit.  He left when he became a free agent. 



AI was always about himself on the court.  We watched Ray Allen sacrifice his game for the Celtics.

[dtrader]

When was AI a cancer through his career?  In his prime, he made a team of sixers play waaay above their normal level. He gave that tem it's toughness. In Denver, he was probably one of the 5 best PGs in the game. He was an efficient player there. Not even the volume scorer he's remembered as. He wasn't a cancer in Philly the second time either. He played hurt, and gave it all he had. I never heard a single negative thing about him from the Philly locker room. Only good things. Unfortunately he had injuries+ issues off the court that made him have to stop. Memphis was a tough situation for him, but again...he was never a cancer, and he certainly never gave up. The whole issue, was that he was being benched in favor of a lesser player, who didn't give the team as good a shot at winning. Conley is ok now, but when AI was there, he was playing like garbage compared to AI. Fine...the organization saw him as the future, but AI just wanted to win in every game he played+ didn't agree with accepting loses to develop a player.  I don't know if people really watched him when he was on Memphis or Philly, but AI was still doing more for his teams at those stops than his counterparts.

[Cman]

As much as I dislike that Ray chose to go to Miami rather than stay here in Boston, Ray is and always will be a consummate professional. And for that he has my respect. AI was an exciting player. I loved watching him play when he was on his game. But a professional he was not.

[Chris]

I don't they're really apples to apples situations. Allen Iverson was blackballed for a few reasons, his ego among them, but not alone. His history as a cancer, other players perceptions of him, his deteriorating play, other owners' perceptions of him, Stern's perceptions, lots of stuff.

Ray Allen just felt disrespected, and went to another team.

I agree.  Although I also don't think Iverson was blackballed.  I just think he reached the point in his career where the headache started outweighing the benefit.

At his current skill level, there are plenty of guys you can find to match him for the vet minimum, who don't come with the baggage.  So, no one wants him.

But yeah, Ray was just a free agent, who decided he wanted a change of scenery.

[guava_wrench]

Ray went to the bench in Boston without complaining.  He signed with Miami to be a bench player, without complaining.  Those are two things Iverson never did.

One of many good responses to this question.

A lot of the anti-Ray stuff has been hyperbole exaggerating Ray's response. Ray's response has been no more than the Celtics response (with both KG and Doc talking about his leaving on media day).

[Fafnir]

Ray went to the bench in Boston without complaining.  He signed with Miami to be a bench player, without complaining.  Those are two things Iverson never did.

Yeah pretty much, though clearly he dislikes being a bench player probably as much as Iverson did Ray's been a pro about helping his team.

Iverson just quit.

[CelticG1]

Ray went to the bench in Boston without complaining.  He signed with Miami to be a bench player, without complaining.  Those are two things Iverson never did.

He "technically" didn't complain but said he proffered to start, that he's still a starter in the league,  didn't think he would necessarily do better off the bench, wasn't sure if it was the right move.

I would def consider that a lot of whining if you don't want to call it complaining

[Moranis]

When did it become known that Allen Iverson was blackballed?  I thought he just couldn't play anymore and wasn't worth the headache or the money.  That isn't being blackballed that is just smart business.

[nickagneta]

When was AI a cancer through his career?  In his prime, he made a team of sixers play waaay above their normal level. He gave that tem it's toughness. In Denver, he was probably one of the 5 best PGs in the game. He was an efficient player there. Not even the volume scorer he's remembered as. He wasn't a cancer in Philly the second time either. He played hurt, and gave it all he had. I never heard a single negative thing about him from the Philly locker room. Only good things. Unfortunately he had injuries+ issues off the court that made him have to stop. Memphis was a tough situation for him, but again...he was never a cancer, and he certainly never gave up. The whole issue, was that he was being benched in favor of a lesser player, who didn't give the team as good a shot at winning. Conley is ok now, but when AI was there, he was playing like garbage compared to AI. Fine...the organization saw him as the future, but AI just wanted to win in every game he played+ didn't agree with accepting loses to develop a player.  I don't know if people really watched him when he was on Memphis or Philly, but AI was still doing more for his teams at those stops than his counterparts.

Some serious selective memory in this post.