Sixers retiring #3 in honor of AI today

[D.o.s.]

He joins Charles Barkley, Maurice Cheeks, Wilt Chamberlain, Billy Cunningham, Julius Erving, Hal Greer and Bobby Jones in the rafters.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/76ers/2014/02/28/philadelphia-76ers-retire-jersey-allen-iverson-nba/5910211/

[hpantazo]

Well deserved. Iverson has not gotten the respect that he should have for his NBA career. He was a true superstar who's legacy was put in shadow because Stern and Co. didn't like his image and personality.

[pearljammer10]

When you think sixers you have to think Iverson. Well deserved indeed.

[Schiller]

I always found it sad how The Answer didn't finish his career in the NBA. It's nice to see that the 76'ers appreciated what he did for them. He was a truly electrifying player.

[SparzWizard]

Practice? We talkin' about practice!

Kudos to you AI.

[Birdman]

is moses Malone number retire there

[TheGreenMonster]

They way they are tanking I'm surprised they didn't just give him a game tonight.

[Onslaught]

To say I'm not a fan of his is an understatement. He and a few other players back then just about turned me off of the NBA at the time. But his number should be retired there. He did take them to the Finals.

[LarBrd33]

obscenely overrated player, but he deserves having his number retired there for sure.

Definition of volume shooter.

[slamtheking]

Can not stand him.  Represents everything wrong with NBA from that time.  I understand why they're doing it but seeing him get any positive recognition for his play makes me Ill.

[LarBrd33]

Can not stand him.  Represents everything wrong with NBA from that time.  I understand why they're doing it but seeing him get any positive recognition for his play makes me Ill.

yeah I mean... i really don't think he was a superstar.  It's actually weird to look back at his stats and wonder what the flip was going on back then.  Him and Antoine Walker both.  How was Iverson allowed to shoot 39%... 29% from three... and jack up enough shots to average 29 points per night.  How was that their most efficient offense?  Was that just because he was flashy and entertaining?  He sold tickets so it was ok?  The dude was a complete chucker.  They replaced him with Andre Miller and improved. 

Really bizarre era of basketball.  I can't even fathom a team allowing one player to jack up 28 shots per night while shooting 39%.  It just melts my mind even thinking about it.  This isn't even advanced statistical analysis... this is just like... what the heck??  It's like saying "you know... ricky Rubio is one of the least efficient shooters in the league... but he's super entertaining.  So instead of his normal 8 shots per night, we're going to let him chuck up 30 per night until his PPG is "superstar" levels."

That only could have happened in the post Jordan era.  King James averages 17 attempts per night.  Wrap your mind around this... if King James were chucking it up on Iverson levels, he'd average close to 50 points per game.

Meanwhile, Iverson averaged 6 assists and 4 turnovers.  Just an obscenely overrated player.

[greg683x]

Well deserved. Iverson has not gotten the respect that he should have for his NBA career. He was a true superstar who's legacy was put in shadow because Stern and Co. didn't like his image and personality.

hmm i kinda remember his legacy being tarnished by refusing to come off the bench once his skills started to diminish.  Detroit and Memphis ran him out of town, and the Sixers brought him back to sell tickets for a couple months and then he left again.

'I'd rather retire than come off the bench."   -- .....and some people say he didnt ask for it.

[moiso]

Well deserved. Iverson has not gotten the respect that he should have for his NBA career. He was a true superstar who's legacy was put in shadow because Stern and Co. didn't like his image and personality.

I find all this "held back by Stern" stuff ridiculous.  There was plenty of "Stern hates Celtics" stuff when he didn't allow KG, Paul, and Doc to easily go to the Clippers.

We have so much in the way of new advanced statistics nowadays that an inefficient player like Iverson would not be looked at the same today.  It would be common knowledge that he really doesn't help a team nearly as much as a lower scoring/more efficient player.  He would never be allowed to jack up that many shots while not converting a decent percentage, while playing 40 minutes per game and not guarding anyone. 

When I think of Iverson I think of a slightly better version of Brandon Jennings who was given free reign.  And in hindsight he has the benefit of the whole Michael Jordan "larger than life" thing.

Look at the numbers, look at the defense.  He wasn't as good as most of us picture in our minds.

That said, he definitely deserves to have his number retired by the Sixers.  But he's not an alltime great.  And the title of best pound for pound player is just stupid.  He is one of the lightest players ever, so what does that mean? 

[LarBrd33]

Well deserved. Iverson has not gotten the respect that he should have for his NBA career. He was a true superstar who's legacy was put in shadow because Stern and Co. didn't like his image and personality.

And the title of best pound for pound player is just stupid.  He is one of the lightest players ever, so what does that mean?

It means that Earl Boykins would have averaged 38PPG if he had been allowed to jack it up 29 times per night... and he would have averaged 85PPG if he was 7 feet tall.

[Vox_Populi]

I have never seen a crossover as smooth or confusing as Iverson's. He was a lot of fun to watch. I imagine he'll make the Hall of Fame, regardless of how polarizing he is.