Allen Iverson wants to come back to the game he once loved and neglected. According to reports, Iverson hopes to sign with an NBA team after retiring from the league two years ago. He played in Turkey briefly in 2010 before retiring again. The greatest little man in NBA history, Iverson made 10 All-Star games and won an MVP award.
Iverson claims that his personal life affected his play on the court. “Obviously, I was dealing with the situation with my daughter and going through a divorce, and I wasn’t there mentally,” Iverson said. “In my career those last couple years were so hard for me because I wasn’t there. Mentally, I wasn’t there.”
But at 36, Iverson will face an uphill battle if he hopes to return to the NBA.
During his last year in the league, Iverson had trouble staying in front of younger guards and his quickness, his most dependable asset, was no longer effective.
His attitude was also a negative factor. He often clashed with coaches; his volume shooting became a detriment at times; and he complained about not starting during his playing days in Detroit and Memphis. Off the court, reports have surfaced about his financial issues and gambling problems.
Similar to Terrell Owens, who is finding it difficult to sign with an NFL team at 38 years old, Iverson is trying to cope with the reality of living life after his athletic prime.
Iverson and Owens are cautionary tales for younger athletes who don’t believe in the long-term value of eating humble pie.–amir shaw
