Iverson needed Philadelphia’s warm embrace
Allen Iverson(notes) said it wouldn’t have mattered if the New York Knicks had second thoughts and called. Or even if Kobe Bryant(notes), LeBron James(notes), Dwight Howard(notes), Kevin Garnett(notes) – really anyone outside the City of Brotherly Love – had phoned and tried to change his mind.
Iverson was beginning to enjoy retirement. And he didn’t foresee himself returning to the NBA unless one team – his beloved Philadelphia 76ers – wanted him back. Had the Sixers never called, Iverson figures he’d still be back in Atlanta happily hanging out with his family, done playing basketball.
“Retirement was the best for me,” said Iverson, whose official retirement lasted about a week. “[Philadelphia] is the only thing that could have brought me back, to play in this situation right here. I felt like I was having the time of my life.
“I always thought that once I gave the game up that it would be miserable for me and I thought about how I would miss it. But at the time that I was out, I didn’t miss it because my family took over all of that. Just being there with my family every day, being able to see my kids and my wife whenever I felt like it, it was a great feeling to me.
“No obligations. No media. None of that type of stuff. It was a good feeling, man.”
Iverson, 34, lacks an NBA title in his career, but even if one of the league’s top contenders had called and offered him a contract, he says he’d have probably passed. He instead got what he wanted: a chance to return to the franchise that drafted him.
“I don’t chase no championship,” Iverson said. “I’ve said that from Day One. I have of lot of respect for the talent [God] gave me and I respect my game and what I do on the basketball court, and I wouldn’t do something like that. A championship like that wouldn’t mean much to me. I’d have to be an intricate part in what we are trying to do in winning a championship.”
Iverson took a leave of absence from the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 7 for family reasons, but he also wasn’t happy with his reserve role and minutes. Ten days later, the Grizzlies and Iverson agreed to a contract buyout. After the Knicks showed interest but failed to make an offer, Iverson surprisingly announced he was retiring on Nov. 25. A day later, the Sixers called to see if he could help replace injured guard Lou Williams.
In what Iverson and his wife, Tawanna, deemed a “perfect opportunity,” he signed a nonguaranteed contract with the Sixers on Dec. 2, nearly three years to the day that he last played for them.
“It was a real tough time personally for him,” said Leon Rose, Iverson’s agent. “If this situation didn’t arrive, I don’t know what direction it would have gone. This was something that he dreamed of happening. It was like it was meant to be.”
Said Iverson: “I felt I would be accepted coming back and the fans wanted me back in Philly.”
Iverson has shown why. He’s played well while starting for Philadelphia. The Sixers went 1-3 without Iverson when he recently missed three games because of knee and shoulder injuries. Philadelphia, however, has won three of its past five games when Iverson has played.
“He’s given us another dimension,” said Sixers coach Eddie Jordan.
Iverson never played a single home game for the Grizzlies during his short, turbulent tenure with the franchise. He missed the preseason with a hamstring injury, then complained upon returning that he wasn’t starting. He was frustrated by his lack of communication with Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins but so far seems to be on the same page with Jordan.
“He’s been great; he’s been terrific,” Jordan said. “He’s talked to the young guys. He’s willing to practice. Every time we practice, he’s followed his medical advice. He’s been good in games.
“There were conditions leading to his signing. He’s fulfilled all the promises that we’ve talked about.”
Iverson will be part of this summer’s deep free-agent class, and he hasn’t ruled out playing elsewhere. The Sixers have two young guards – Williams and Jrue Holiday(notes) – they are trying to develop. So far, Iverson’s positive return to Philadelphia has him less inclined to try retirement again.
“We will see,” Iverson said. “I might change my mind once we get to that point. I’ll talk to my wife and we will figure out what we will do. But it has to be a situation to which I will be happy like this situation here. We are not championship favorites or anything like that. We don’t have a great record. I go to practice, I go to games, I’m happy.
“I’m happy with my situation and I love playing with these guys. And that’s the most important thing for me – just to be happy.”
იმედია გააგრძელებს კონტრაქტს . ჯორდანს ისე ევასება უეჭველი შეათავაზებინებს ახალს ... და ნუ so far გუნდს მაგრად ეხმარება , რაც უფრო ფორმაში ჩადგება უფრო დაეხმარება ...
This post has been edited by Rozer on 2 Jan 2010, 14:07
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PHILADELPHIA 76ERS, ეს გუნდი მალე ფლეი ოფს მოიგებს!!!
