NEWS
Philadelphia 76ers veteran guard Allen Iverson has announced that he will not return to the team this season.
Iverson has now left the team on two separate occasions to deal with a medical issue regarding his daughter, and said that he couldn’t stand being away from his family..
The medical issue has not been released by Iverson because he wants to keep things confidential, which is certainly more than understandable.
Just a few days after announcing that he would not return for the season, Iverson’s wife filed for divorce, citing things that could not possibly be fixed.
It seems like Iverson’s life is falling apart around him, and it’s no wonder that the former NBA star is taking a step back from the game to try and figure out his personal life.
Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 7:16 pm by steve · No Comments
The Sixers’ season-long winning streak is now at four games, after the Sixers beat the Rockets 102-95 on the road on Saturday night.
In a twisted reversal-of-fates, instead of blowing a double-digit lead, the Sixers were the ones coming back from a double-digit deficit to steal the game away from the Rockets.
After a productive first quarter for the Sixers, the Rockets’ speedy point guard Aaron Brooks exploded for 19 points in the second quarter, guiding the Rockets to a 10-point halftime lead. The Sixers stopped the bleeding when it got to 60-47, and started on a 24-12 run after narrowing the lead down to 76-66.
Reserve Thaddeus Young broke out for a team-high 17 points, with Willie Green chipping in 15 points, and swingman Andre Iguodala going for 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
“In the first half, the Rockets were working harder than we were and were getting to the free throw line and we weren’t,” Green said.
“Everybody contributed and it was a great team win. We are digging down, playing hard and making a playoff push.”
Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 11:43 am by bryan · No Comments
The Sixers are now on their fifth two-game winning streak of the season. (Sad, but true.)
After beating the four-win New Jersey Nets on Sunday night, the Sixers turned their attention back home to the Chicago Bulls, who were at .500 coming into the night. They wouldn’t leave Philly with a winning record, as the Sixers trumped the Bulls, 106-103 in overtime on Wednesday night.
The Sixers were anchored by guard Andre Iguodala, who dropped a LeBron-esque stat line of 25 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and three steals, and forward Elton Brand, who added a team-high 26 points of his own.
Iggy and Brand almost choked this game away for the Sixers, as had been the case for so many earlier games this season. Iguodala only knocked down one of two free throws at the end of regulation to tie the game at 94, and Brand rebounded Iggy’s bricked freebie only to miss a jumper of his own. (Bulls guard Derrick Rose missed a buzzer-beater at the end of regulation that would have put the Sixers away.)
In overtime, the Sixers turned it on once Iguodala knocked down a three-pointer at the top of the key to give the Sixers a three point lead.
“It’s a big win in overtime,” Brand said. “It’s like role reversal from playing these guys at the beginning of the year.”
Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 8:43 pm by bryan · No Comments
The Philadelphia 76ers welcome Allen Iverson back to the lineup in front of a sold-out crowd at the Wachovia Center.
Iverson, whose affection for the city is reciprocated by the fans’ feeling for their beloved star, did not have a huge impact in his first game with the team.
The guard, who was in tears when introduced at the news conference, warned that he wouldn’t perform any miracles. At least not right away.
He will be in the starting lineup until Louis Williams returns from injury, at which time the Sixers will have a tough decision to make.
Until then, Iverson should substantially boost ticket sales and give the team their best chance to win.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 9:07 am by steve · No Comments
On Thursday, the Philadelphia 76ers welcomed back a legend who they shoved out the doors three years ago, as Allen Iverson held a press conference to discuss his return to the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 1996.
Iverson, who retired earlier this season after an unsuccessful three-game stint with Memphis that didn’t meet his expectations, sounded like a man humbled, looking for his last opportunity in the NBA.
“I don’t want to prove anyone wrong in this situation. I’m not in it for that,” he said. “If I can help my team win basketball games the way Coach wants me to help, then I’ll be satisfied.”
The Sixers announced that they had signed Iverson to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal for the veteran’s minimum on Wednesday, a far departure from the near-$20 million paychecks he was bringing home in his past few seasons.
“I am bringing him back here to help us going forward to win basketball games,” coach Eddie Jordan said. Jordan didn’t specify that Iverson would necessarily be a starter, but he stressed that Iverson would not become a role player in the Sixers’ offense, even when Lou Williams returns.
For his part, Iverson sounded extremely grateful to have another chance at basketball, after saying that it felt like “the basketball part of my life was over” after his time in Memphis.
“I want to retire here,” Iverson said.
Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 12:25 am by bryan · No Comments
Just days before Allen Iverson makes his courtside return in a Philadelphia uniform, the Sixers are reminding everyone just why they needed the extra help.
The Sixers lost their eighth straight on Wednesday night, falling victim to Kevin Durant’s 33 points as the Thunder stormed past the Sixers, 117-106.
“It just seems like we have to play a near-perfect game to snap out of this thing,” Philadelphia coach Eddie Jordan said.
The Sixers, mired in their longest losing streak in three years, have been struggling with two of their young stars, Louis Williams and Marreese Speights, sidelined until January with injuries.
“Every game, it’s been something that’s been getting us,” said Willie Green, who scored 14 points as the starting shooting guard. “Whether it’s executing down the stretch, whether it’s making sure we get that last stop or making sure we’re in sync on defense, we’re half a step slow a little bit and hopefully we can just continue to get better and find a way to win a game.”
This time, it was Oklahoma City’s 14-5 run to open up the third quarter that was the Sixers’ undoing. They were outrebounded 23-13 in the second half, and the Thunder grabbed eight offensive rebounds (to the Sixers’ zero) in the half.
Andre Iguodala scored a team-high 28 points for the Sixers, with Thaddeus Young adding 20, rookie point guard Jrue Holiday scoring 15, and Elton Brand dropping 13 off the bench.
at 12:24 am by bryan · No Comments
By Bud L. Ellis
The Answer is The Answer is coming home.
Allen Iverson, who built his All-Star career running point for the Philadelphia 76ers, signed a one-year deal with his former team on Wednesday, a few days after announcing his retirement from the NBA.
Iverson, who played in three games for Memphis before leaving the Grizzlies, will help fill the void left when Louis Williams broke his jaw. Williams is expected to miss up to eight weeks with the injury.
Enter Iverson, who stands No. 2 in franchise history in scoring, earned 10 All-Star berths and the 2001 MVP award, and led Philly to the 2001 NBA Finals.
Iverson is expected to make his Philly return Monday night at home against Denver, the first game of a five-game homestand for the struggling 76ers.
Iverson has put up Hall of Fame worthy numbers in his career. He was traded from Philly to Denver in 2006. He also played with Detroit before joining Memphis this offseason.
It’s a blast from the past for the Sixers and for Iverson, who Philly took with the first overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. During his time with the 76ers, Iverson became one of the most dynamic players in the NBA.
—30—
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 11:13 pm by bud · No Comments
Just a couple of weeks after announcing his retirement, Allen Iverson has signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The guard will be returning to the city where he spent nearly all of his career and become one of the league’s biggest stars.
The Sixers are hopeful Iverson can help them reverse course and steer them toward the playoffs.
Iverson signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in the offseason after contemplating his future and trying to find an interested team.
However, he quickly grew frustrated by the team’s losing and his role coming off the bench and took a leave of absence.
By Bud L. Ellis
The Answer will give his answer to his longtime team Wednesday.
Allen Iverson met with the Philadelphia 76ers Monday, the recently retired guard looking to potentially return with the team where he built his stellar NBA career.
After a short stint coming off the bench with the Memphis Grizzlies, Iverson announced his retirement last week. But Iverson, who led the 76ers to the 2001 NBA Finals and won the league’s MVP award in the process, has been talking to Philly about a return to the hardwood.
The 76ers are struggling, having lost 13 of 18 games so far this season, and could use Iverson to boost sagging interest in the team. Iverson, who many believe still wants to play, could use the 76ers to make a little extra money and get more playing time than he did in Memphis, a team for which he appeared in just three games.
There is no doubt Iverson isn’t the player he once was, the player who earned 10 trips to the NBA All-Star game and who was one of the top players in the league. But if he has the desire to keep playing, Philly seems the logical stop for The Answer.
According to published reports, Iverson is expected to decide whether or not to return Wednesday.
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 11:17 pm by bud · No Comments
With news breaking last week that the Sixers were considering bringing back Allen Iverson after point guard Lou Williams was sidelined with a broken jaw for the next eight weeks, the Sixers and Iverson met for two hours on Monday, and seem closer than ever to reaching a deal.
ESPN.com spoke to two sources familiar with the situation, who say that the Sixers would be targeting Monday’s home game against the Denver Nuggets as the date as to which they’d bring Iverson back.
Sixers coach Eddie Jordan, GM Ed Stefanski and Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider all continue to deny reports that they’ve reached a decision about whether or not to sign Iverson, even after the meeting.
The sources, however, told ESPN.com that Iverson’s return is more likely than not on both sides of the table. The Sixers reportedly have already made plans to send assistant coach (and former Iverson teammate) Aaron McKie to meet with Iverson in Philadelphia later this week to make sure he’d be ready for Monday’s game against the Nuggets.
“No doubt he’s coming back,” one source said.
More to come as the situation unfolds.
at 11:01 pm by bryan · No Comments
