Mike said no, Allen said yes.
After 13 years in the NBA, Allen Iverson announces his retirement via a statement (which is included after the jump) through StephenA.com. What are ya’ll thoughts? Think he’ll stay away from the game? After reading the statement it seems like he was “forced” away more than it was his decision. I’m sure #3 will be back.
TO ALL OF MY FANS:
I would like to announce my plans to retire from the National Basketball Association. I always thought that when I left the game, it would be because I couldn’t help my team the way that I was accustomed to. However, that is not the case.
I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank. I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level.
Stepping away from the game will allow me to spend quality time with my wife and kids. This is a reward that far exceeds anything that I’ve ever achieved on the basketball court. I have prayed for this day and I see it as my greatest gift.
I want to thank the people of Reebok International Ltd., for always allowing me to be me and for supporting me my whole career through all the ups and downs. I have enjoyed 13 wonderful seasons in the NBA, and I am grateful.
I want to first acknowledge my fans everywhere, who have been with me throughout my entire career. Without you, there would be no me. You should all know that I appreciate your support from the bottom of my heart. Thank you!
To Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley and Larry Bird, you guys gave me the vision to play the game that will be forever in my heart.
To my Mom, who encouraged and inspired me to play every day, and to all of my family and friends who stood by me from the beginning. Thank you!
To my high school coach, Michael Bailey, Coach John Thompson at Georgetown University, Coach Larry Brown and to all of my other coaches, teammates, administrators, owners and staff who’ve been a part of my career, Thank you as well!
I’d like to give a special thanks to the people of Memphis. I never played a home game for your beloved Grizzlies, but I want you to know how much I appreciate the opportunity given me by a great owner in Michael Heisley, and the support of the city. I wish the Memphis Grizzlies’ organization all of the success that the game has to offer.
And finally, to the city of Philadelphia: I have wonderful memories of my days in a Sixers’ uniform. To Philly fans, thank you. Your voice will always be music to my ears.
God Bless all of you,
ALLEN IVERSON
man that’s crazy
What a bad way for his career to end
He will be back in a year, will go overseas or stay retired till someone needs a guard…
mann iverson used to be my fav player
^word man.
im out of the loop of baskteball….whose “forcing” him out? i memba in middle school and elementary school every1 wore his jersey and ppl who didnt watch nba knew his name, wut happened over the yrs???
I guess where do you go if the Knicks dont even want cha!!
its about time, now we need shaq to retire
AI is my all time favorite player, and always will be, I think AI had something left, he only retired b/c there is no one that would start him…wait till some starting point guard gets hurt though, AI will be back
THIS HAPPEN EARLIER IN THE AFTERNOON THIS JUST KNOW GETTING POSTED
word @ Shaq throwing the towel in..
I watched this on TV earlier today and it’s sad that a great player is leaving the game but if he’s really choosing to be more of a husband and a dad then I don’t blame him. I feel he’ll be back in a few years and who knows, he might end up being better than ever.
he’ll be back
He’ll be back.
…YUP, JUST LIKE JAY-Z AND BRETT FAVRE
HE’LL BE BACK AFTER HE CATCHES A CASE OR SUM SHIT 2 GET HIS CHIPPAS UP, WATCH
Thank You
I just don’t understand why somebody like Mike Conley was gonna keep his starting position over an obvious force like AI…. He was an all-star just two years ago. If you watched any of the games he played in this season, you would’ve noticed he did pretty good in limited minutes…. Forget their “youth movement” because in a few years none of the guys currently on the Grizzlies roster will be on the same team anymore. AI= FIRST CLASS HALL OF FAMER!!
People keep saying he’s selfish because he wants to start, but I think he’s still in the top 30% of players in the league.
He’ll be back, someone is going to get hurt or traded. I remember I had like 3 of his jerseys when I was 14. Dude’s a sureshot Hall of Famer.
The Answer, always a favorite.
he’ll be back soon as somebody comes callin, but he too stubborn man, he don’t fit nobody system right now and he got to much pride to pull a kg, ray allen, pierce move and sacrifice some of his game, and look where they at…but he’ll be back
Yeah I sure hope he comes back, but this going away speech was so dope I dont know if he can haha
Eh, don’t care. Overpriced Reeboks were never cool
no way he stays away, he’ll be back this season. maybe not till the playoffs but someone will need him them.
hes not ready 2 quit. he’ll b bck. he has plenty of ball left in him
It’s a shame he had to go out like this. But gotta give him his props for doing things his way.
My favorite player ever!!!! I agree that the coach who started Mike Conley over Allen Iverson is a idiot!!!!! I don’t think you understand how I feel about this dude. I’m from Memphis and we needed A.I. man…It seems like things are always just too good to be true for us from losing the National Championship to wack ass Kansas to losing Pau Gasol for ?. I hope my city’s luck starts to change soon. Fire the WACK ASS coach and BRING BACK THE ANSWER!!! One of the 5 greatest shooting guards ever…You don’t agree..check the stats!!!!
“when the new generation think about Jordan
all they remember is when Iverson crossed him”
we talking about practice
my home town hero right here….BUBBACHUCK KING OF THE CROSSOVER! BAD NEWS VA!!!!
Allen Iverson crossing Jordan was the mark of a new era for the shooting guard. Although he never won a championship, I recognized that Allen Iverson definitely changed the game. I remember every kid from the hood copied Allen Iverson’s handles, so I don’t know if he realize how much impact he made, or whether he made enough impact.
Good luck to Mr. Iverson.
radric davis <3 allen iverson
I hate to see great shooting guards retire so early when so much heart and desire to play is still left in him i guess his ego got the best of him extremely talented. kinda makes me think of how the nba plays ron artest good player bad attitude no one wants that a.i. is truly the answer so why didn’t he fit the equation see he fits the equation on paper but in reality ego overcomes chemistry look at denver situation detroit and then memphis wtf? man well its been a long career for him hope he comes back as the new improved A.I. >3 the answer
i think AI been in the league 14yrs if im not mistaken??
But truly 1 of the best under 6ft 2do it!!
Nooo.. he was my favourite player..
dmn. iverson was my favorite player. i remember back in the day saying kobe vs iverson and i’d be like AI but that was when iverson was scoring 30 a game. and he WAS better than kobe. kobe jus got progressively good. if you check the stats kobe just passed iverson in points and they been in the league for the same amount of time. everywhere he went was my favorite team lmao. philly still my favorite till this day but i fck wit denver and detroit jus cause he was out there. same with mike vick. i love the falcons cause of him and its still my squad i jus fck wit the eagles cause of him. he’ll be back thou.
We sitting here. I supposed to be franchise player, and we in here talkin bout practice! :P
Salute AI. He did it right. Coulda turned into a Hall Of Fame journeyman. Time to put some miles on the Lambo
never got that ring. can only rely on the crossover and hogging the rock for so long. good riddens.
he aint done someone is gonnna need him and he wont retire until he has a playoffs victory
prolly gonna comeback if a contender wants him. ironically he said he doesnt wanna be a bench player but if he comes to a contender he will have to be
fuck allen Iverson is the illest. He wanted to be his self. To many players including KOBE wanted to be JORDAN….AI is stuggle. AI change the game. The illest crossover……man Georgetown, Sixers…..AI THE ANSWER
great career AI. he’s not coming back. he has too much pride. nobody will start him & he won’t come off the bench. he’s a defensive liability. he was terrible on the pistons. he should have retired after he quit on us last year.
Orlando could use him with jameer out i am surprized that didnt happen anyways
Just sad, I’m from South Jersey and I grew up watching Allen Iverson. He is my second favorite basketball player of all time. It really hurts. He gave Philly a lot good memories. No matter what Iverson went through, I always supported him. I looked up to him. When I played basketball, I tried to imiate him. He played his heart out every night. He definitely still has some basketball left in him and I hope a team picks him up. Thank you Iverson for the good memories!!!
So there really is a God?!!! It’s about damn time!!!
i mean for real tho, it aint like AI lost a step or aint the same player anymore, people who say that are just haters. its that teams arent willing to build their rosters around the nigga at this point. it was like that in philly because thats how the team was when he got there. he is still starter talent, that nigga just wants to play the whole game still
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