Updated January 12, 2011
He's one of the greatest scorers of his generation -- and pound-for-pound, one of the toughest players in recent memory. But after a three-game stint with the Memphis Grizzlies, Allen Iverson's NBA career could be at an end.
Quick Facts
- Date of Birth: June 7, 1975
- Home Town: Hampton, Virginia
- College Team: Georgetown Hoyas
- Position: Guard
- Height and Weight: 6-0, 180
- Drafted: 1996, #1 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers
High School
An outstanding athlete, Iverson played both basketball and football at Bethel High School, quarterbacking Bethel to a Virginia state championship. But high school wasn't all about athletic glory; he spent four months in a correctional facility for his role in a bowling alley brawl. His controversial conviction was later overturned due to insufficient evidence.Georgetown
Iverson played his college ball at Georgetown -- a school most associated with big men like Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo. Iverson carried on the Ewing/Mourning/Mutombo tradition by playing stifling defense. In his two years with the Hoyas, Iverson averaged over three steals per game, and was twice named Big East Defensive Player of the Year.He was also the first of John Thompson's Hoyas to leave school early for the NBA.
Philadelphia
Iverson was the first overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft and an instant success at the pro level, winning Rookie of the Year honors. He'd go on to win four scoring titles as a Sixer, but his best season was 2000-01, when he led the NBA in scoring, won the Most Valuable Player award and led Philly to the NBA Finals.But the Sixers failed to replicate that success in the next season, and the strain of Iverson's difficult relationship with coach Larry Brown started to show.
Denver
Iverson's relationship with Sixer management deteriorated to the point that a trade became necessary, and on December 19, 2006, he was sent to Denver for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and draft picks. At the time of the deal, Iverson was the league's second-leading scorer -- and the leader was Nugget forward Carmelo Anthony. But the Iverson/Anthony combination failed to yield big results; the high-water mark for that Nugget team was a first-round playoff loss in 2007.Detroit
One week into the 2007-08 season, Iverson was traded to Detroit for Chauncey Billups, in what turned out to be one of the more lopsided deals in recent NBA history. Billups went on to lead the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals. Iverson clashed with coach Michael Curry, chafed when asked to come off the bench, and wound up taking most of the blame when one of the league's perennial contenders imploded.Memphis
Coming off that disastrous season, teams weren't exactly lining up to sign Iverson. There were rumors about interest from Miami and New York, the possibility of reuniting with Larry Brown in Charlotte, even an offer from the Greek league. But the Memphis Grizzlies were the only team to offer a contract.Iverson's tenure with the Grizzlies got off to a rough start; a hamstring injury caused him to miss most of training camp and the first week of the season. When he finally did make his debut, the old AI was back -- but not in a good way. After just one game, he was complaining about coming off the bench. After three games he left the team entirely. And on November 16 he was waived.
