Iverson Returns to Philly With Tearful Press Conference
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.
