Time For Iverson To Put the Game First
By J.A. Adande
ESPN.com
(Archive)

If Allen Iverson means it when he says he'd rather retire than keep coming off the bench, then this isn't an issue for Pistons coach Michael Curry or president Joe Dumars to resolve. This is a matter for Dr. Phil, because this is about Iverson's love of the game, his commitment to a relationship that's lasted for a quarter of a century.

The Pistons have asked Iverson to come off the bench for the three games since he returned from a back injury that kept him out for a month. He's reacting about as well as if they'd asked him to come in early for practice.

"I'm in a position now that I've never been in my whole life," Iverson told reporters in New Jersey after the Pistons lost to the Nets on Wednesday night. "It's harder than I thought it would be. With the back injury, I have to sit out at the start, then go in, then sit again. It's tough to really get going. I take my hat off to the guys who can come off the bench and be effective. It's tough for me. I'm struggling with it.

"I'd rather retire before I do this again. I can't be effective playing this way. I'm not used to it. It's tough for me both mentally and physically. If I'm able to go out there, I should be able to get it done and I can't right now. It's my fault. I have to be able to overcome the adversity and do what I have to do. I just have to find a way to get it done. Not being 100 percent makes it harder and you can see that I'm not 100 percent."

If Iverson truly loves the game and wants to continue playing in the world's most prestigious league, he'll understand that it's time to continue on the game's terms. He had his turn in Philadelphia, when the roster was reworked around him while the likes of Derrick Coleman, Jerry Stackhouse, Tim Thomas and Larry Hughes came and went. He won an MVP that way, took a trip to the Finals that way. The game was good to him. It put him first.

This is the time to reciprocate, to realize that sometimes you have to put others ahead of you. The Pistons had a losing record with Iverson in the starting lineup after they acquired him in a trade with the Denver Nuggets. Richard Hamilton did his stint on the bench, did it without publicly questioning his desire to continue. It's not too much to ask Iverson to do the same.

I take Iverson seriously when he says he wouldn't want to stay in the league as a bench player. He's said in the past that he will play as long as he's among the elite, the brand names. He said it again after the All-Star Game in Phoenix, only it didn't jump out at me then, but it stuck with me just enough that I searched through the digital recorder Wednesday night to hear his exact words: "For me, once I can't play like this any more, once I can't compete with the younger guys and do things that I'm accustomed to doing on the basketball floor, I'll know it's my time."

The greats are often the last to know. They have to be told, explicitly. Nothing speaks louder than allocation of minutes. Iverson has played a total of 35 in the past two games, or two fewer minutes than Will Bynum.

There isn't a great big payday to be had for the free-agent-to-be. He won't be the second-highest paid player in the league like he was this season, when he made $22 million. The Pistons weren't going to pay him a lot to be a chemistry-clogging backup, especially if he balks at the role. The cash-strapped Grizzlies aren't going to lavish big contracts, the prudent Thunder won't go after a 33-year-old who still wants to be The Man. He'll have to go somewhere for less money; he'll have to go somewhere where he's asked to fit in.

So it's a question of what has the greatest tug on Iverson's heart: his love of the game, or his love of the way he's used to playing it.

Considering he's in his 13th year and has been self imposed focal point for a large part of it, he should have such an ego. but the reality is that he sees the end of his skills coming and chance at a ring decreasing rapidly, the brotha's mad. He'll have to man up and face the facts that he's not 20 anymore and accept his role.

UncleGrandpa said:

Never liked A.I.....never will.
Look at Detroit's record since he came 2 the team....and look at Denver's record.

we talking about the bench?

LMAO at JerseyKRS, that was good.

I'm no Iverson fan, but I will admit he's a warrior. And these comments seem to me to be the comments of a warrior, not a whiner.

RodeoSchro said:

A warrior who has NEVER won.

Graycap23 said:

True. He's got major flaws, but his will to compete isn't one of them.

Graycap23 said:

Neither has charles barkley or karl malone.
Still hall of famers. Would you take dennis rodman
over these two?

RodeoSchro said:

I gotta agree. AI is ridiculous at times, but I don't question his effort or drive.

phunkdaddy said:

None of those guys shot 38% from the field or weren't team players. A.I. is one of the most non-team oriented players I've EVER seen in a team sport.

I'd take D-Rod over quite a few players.
[Edited 4/2/09 13:03pm]

RodeoSchro said:

His will 2 compete 4 team or 4 self?

remember when he got into that fight with his wife and his mom was saying it was "hearsay"? That's one of the funniest soundbites ever.

Graycap23 said:

who wouldn't take the worm? Dude was a hell of a player, crazy or not.

JerseyKRS said:

Exactly....dude has the heart of a lion. But he's a unique player that needs a team built around him, and doesn't mind him dominating the ball. He took a team to the Finals, so there's no questioning his greatness.

uPtoWnNY said:

Ever had a REAL conversation with any of of ex-teammates?

I agree with most here, AI is a warrior, and he's taken more punishment than most in the NBA, he'll be in the HoF. He's in his thirties now with a huge contract on his shoulders, nobody will be willing to pay him anything above $10 mill a year or a contract over two years. He has to adjust his game to being a role player.

Graycap23 said:

The pistons won two titles in spite of Rodman. The greatness of isiah
thomas. The bulls won 3 titles in spite of Rodman. The greatness of jordan.
When this fool was in San Antonio. No titles. Shaq wanted him in L.A and
got him. How long did he last? 3 games.
The point is some great players never win titles but some role players
like Mario Elle are fortunate to win titles because of great players
whom they've played with.
You talking to a philly fan here. Iverson in his prime was never fortunate
to have great players around him. For the record detroit was stinking up
the joint before the iverson/billups trade.
[Edited 4/2/09 19:29pm]

I gotta disagree there. Dude had the DPOY, the 6MOY, and COY when they went to the Finals. His issue was - he ran into the the Diesel and Boy Wonder.

MuthaFunka said:

I'm lost here.
I hope none of those are referring to Dikembe"the stiff giant"Mutuombo.

phunkdaddy said:

Dike is great, but's he's mainly a role player. He'll get you 13 boards, 3 blocks ans 12 points. AI never had that 21/10/4 player. He had Stackhouse when he was young (taller AI, less skilled) and Webber when he was old (prime Webber get's 25/12/6) and a bunch of other non-achivers like Glenn Robinson, LArry Hughes, Keith Van Horn and Derrick Coleman.

seeing how Steve Nash is my favorite player i am not very fond of ballhogging primadonnas such as AI


cry more! its a team sport

phunkdaddy said:

What was A.I.'s EXCUSE when he was on the Olympic team?

LittleBLUECorvette said:

There you go bro. I think hughes could have been great but larry brown
rarely has patience developing young players and him and iverson actually
played well when they were in the lineup together. Derrick also played well
with iverson when he was healthy. Never liked van horn. Robinson was good
in milwaukee for a few seasons but he was damaged goods when he arrived
in philly.

Graycap23 said:

Unless i missed something there were several other players on that
team that lost as well as a hall of fame coach.

phunkdaddy said:

So that my POINT is clear.....A.I. will NEVER win anything. If he is on your team, u are assured of LOSING.

phunkdaddy said:

Did you hear Dikembe on the Jim Rome show yesterday?

He is a Hall of Fame human being. A true inspiration.

In fact, I urge everyone to go to www.dmf.org and if you feel the calling, donate $20.

Graycap23 said:

Agreed. He doesn't get past the "ME" when he spells "TEAM".

phunkdaddy said:

Deke was still blocking and rebounding in 2001.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

AI had a GANG of help throughout his days in Philly...it's just that HIS game runs off other offensive scorers.

Graycap23 said:

The Olys was an issue of the rest of the world catching up to the U.S. No longer could the USA put together a team of good players in 2 weeks and take the gold.