Iverson and Marbury have been linked together since their college days at Georgetown University and Georgia Tech, respectively. Drafted three picks apart in the 1996 NBA Draft, the two players brought a streetwise mentality to the game and were considered the first players to introduce hip-hop culture to the NBA.
They made no apologies for being nonconformists; sporting tattoos, Iverson styled his hair in cornrows, and both traveled with entourages larger than the Wu-Tang Clan’s. And their play on the court matched their brash personas. Miniscule compared to the 6-feet-5 and over giants who rule the NBA, Iverson and Marbury’s relentless aggression made up for their lack of size. They treated every possession as if their survival depended on putting up a fierce defense or making a crucial shot. Each moment on the court was a chance for Iverson and Marbury to prove the doubters wrong.
But the same rebellious styles that made them great also became a hindrance. Iverson and Marbury developed reputations for hogging the basketball and flouting their team’s rules. Iverson’s sound bite on his unwillingness to take responsibility for missing practice in 2002 underscored his immaturity. And Marbury’s refusal to play for the New York Knicks in 2008 created a disastrous ending to his much-publicized homecoming.
Now in their mid-30s, Iverson and Marbury’s promising careers have been derailed by their self-centeredness. Marbury turned down money from the Boston Celtics to take a year off and the New York Knicks rejected Iverson after he ended a 3-game stint with the Memphis Grizzles. Instead of helping a team reach the 2010 NBA Finals, Iverson reportedly decided to retire and Marbury has chosen to spend time dancing on self-made YouTube videos.
As a result, they have become the biggest waste of talent in NBA history. While Hall of Fame players such as Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins, Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing played until they were physically incapable of producing on the court, Iverson and Marbury’s egos have overshadowed the greatness that they have achieved on the court. –amir shaw
