Is Allen Iverson one of the most under-appreciated players ?

[lightspeed5]

this guy is one of the best to play the game for sure, and you never hear his name come up in convos other than to diss him. an elite scorer and super quick.

[Kiorrik]

He coulda been a helluvalot better if he'd just ...

... aww nahw, I can't say it.

[LarBrd33]

Obscenely overrated player.  The Antoine Walker of guards, honestly.

He was fun to watch... but in his prime when he was jacking up shots and averaging 31 a night, he was shooting 39% and 29% from three.  That's just disgustingly inefficient.  He also was averaging about 4.5 turnovers per game during his prime.   His teams improved when he left.  Literally the Antoine Walker of guards.   

Honestly, if Rajon Rondo started taking 28 shots a night like Iverson in his prime, Rondo could probably come close to averaging 30 a night as well.   Iverson was a completely selfish chucker.

[guava_wrench]

Considering his jersey sales, he was not under-appreciated.

Most people seem to evaluate him quite accurately.

[Mazingerz]

Practice? . . . Who needs practice?

[fitzhickey]

Too inefficient to be underrated
As larbrd said
"Toine of guards"

[BballTim]

Considering his jersey sales, he was not under-appreciated.

Most people seem to evaluate him quite accurately.

  Not to mention that "AI" line of shoes and apparel.

  He was tremendously talented but in some ways his own worst enemy. He was a very good shooter/scorer, he just took too many shots against double and triple teams.

[D.o.s.]

Obscenely overrated player.  The Antoine Walker of guards, honestly.

He was fun to watch... but in his prime when he was jacking up shots and averaging 31 a night, he was shooting 39% and 29% from three.  That's just disgustingly inefficient.  He also was averaging about 4.5 turnovers per game during his prime.   His teams improved when he left.  Literally the Antoine Walker of guards.   

Honestly, if Rajon Rondo started taking 28 shots a night like Iverson in his prime, Rondo could probably come close to averaging 30 a night as well.   Iverson was a completely selfish chucker.

Sure, but that kind of misses the point.

Pound-for-pound, AI is almost certainly one of the best basketball players ever.

[McHales Pits]

He took a bunch of shots because he had no one to play with. Those Sixer teams were loaded with trash. Trash and AI - of course.

Extremely tough, extremely quick, and a downright unstoppable scorer at times.

[Chris]

I think he was overrated in his prime, but since then, the needle has swung WAY too far in the other direction to the point that he is very under-rated.  He had his flaws, but in his prime, he was one of the most unguardable players in the history of the league.  He was spectacular to watch, and could really put the team on his back in ways very few others have ever been able to do.

[Roy H.]

Pound-for-pound, AI is almost certainly one of the best basketball players ever.

I guess it depends on how you define "one of the best".

A Hall of Famer?  Absolutely.

Top 50?  I'd say no.

[kozlodoev]

Obscenely overrated player.  The Antoine Walker of guards, honestly.

He was fun to watch... but in his prime when he was jacking up shots and averaging 31 a night, he was shooting 39% and 29% from three.  That's just disgustingly inefficient.  He also was averaging about 4.5 turnovers per game during his prime.   His teams improved when he left.  Literally the Antoine Walker of guards.   

Honestly, if Rajon Rondo started taking 28 shots a night like Iverson in his prime, Rondo could probably come close to averaging 30 a night as well.   Iverson was a completely selfish chucker.

Sure, but that kind of misses the point.

Pound-for-pound, AI is almost certainly one of the best basketball players ever.

No, it doesn't. "Pound for pound", he can take his talents to Coney Island. The NBA is a whole different story.

[fairweatherfan]

I think he was overrated in his prime, but since then, the needle has swung WAY too far in the other direction to the point that he is very under-rated.  He had his flaws, but in his prime, he was one of the most unguardable players in the history of the league.  He was spectacular to watch, and could really put the team on his back in ways very few others have ever been able to do.

Yeah, I agree.  He was so overrated by so many "casual" fans that the "serious" fans backlashed hard and haven't stopped.  Doesn't help that his personality rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. 

AI's biggest problem was falling into the trap of confusing "I can make it" with "I will make it".  Led to him taking lots of heavily challenged, tough shots.  He made quite a few but missed a lot more, and in the long run, it was never enough to be more than a fringe contender.

[PhoSita]

He's basically the ultimate version of what Monta Ellis is today.

At this very best, he won games by himself.  But he never made his team better, and he often made his team worse.

No, he's not under-appreciated.

[Chris]

I think he was overrated in his prime, but since then, the needle has swung WAY too far in the other direction to the point that he is very under-rated.  He had his flaws, but in his prime, he was one of the most unguardable players in the history of the league.  He was spectacular to watch, and could really put the team on his back in ways very few others have ever been able to do.

Yeah, I agree.  He was so overrated by so many "casual" fans that the "serious" fans backlashed hard and haven't stopped.  Doesn't help that his personality rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. 

AI's biggest problem was falling into the trap of confusing "I can make it" with "I will make it".  Led to him taking lots of heavily challenged, tough shots.  He made quite a few but missed a lot more, and in the long run, it was never enough to be more than a fringe contender.

I also think the way his career ended did a TON of damage to his reputation.  The way he jumped around from team to team, and then did the whole thing where he wanted to still be a star, but didn't have the skills anymore...it really left a bad taste in a lot of people mouth, that I think puts a bit of an unfair shadow over his prime.

I mean, its the same thing with guys like Tracy McGrady, or even Grant Hill, although that was because of injury, and not attitude.  But, people forget that those two both had a short prime when they made a strong argument to be among the greatest to ever play the game.  But, that is all but wiped out by their recent history as role players, and broken down old guys.