Raja Bell. Anthony Parker. Quinton Ross. Anthony Carter. Dahntay Jones. Mario Chalmers. Charlie Bell. Corey Brewer. Devin Brown. Larry Hughes. Thabo Sefolosha. Steve Blake. Beno Udrih.
These are starting guards in the NBA.
Allen Iverson is not.
Something is wrong with this picture.
A.I. still has something left in the tank, and potentially a lot more than that. He’s less than 2 years removed from playing a full 82 games, averaging 26.4 points, 7.1 assists, and 2 steals. All that while shooting a career best 45% from the field.
Am I supposed to believe that Iverson still can’t break most defenders down off the dribble? Can’t create his own shot? Can no longer run up and down the floor with the best of them?
A.I. was a free agent this past summer, and the line of suitors was minimal. At the end of the day, he signed with Memphis, the only team to actually make him an offer.
He’s one of the top-30 players of all-time; a first ballot hall-of-famer; arguably the best player under 6ft to ever lace them up, and no one even wants him.
But I get it.
It makes complete sense, even though it makes no sense at all.
Iverson is basically “too good” for most teams. His presence on the floor looms so large that most teams, the way they are currently constructed, can’t “fit” him in.
I’ll randomly select some teams to illustrate this situation. Let’s say the 2nd place team in each Eastern Conference division and the 3rd place team in each Western Conference division, based on the current standings.
76ers
They have a young, dynamic backcourt with Lou Williams and Andre Iguodala starting, and the rookie PG Jrue Holiday out of UCLA. They have some other young pieces with Thaddeus Young and Mareese Speights. Not to mention Elton Brand. Iverson would stunt the growth and development of the young guys and take away this franchise’s goal of building for the future. They don’t have much of an identity as is, so A.I. would immediately become the face of the team. It’s just not what they’re looking for.
Bulls
This is Derrick Rose’s team for the next decade, and as we saw in last year’s playoffs, he’s ready to lead. No need for a mentor situation. The Bulls have a solid, young nucleus and believe that they are close to entering the top tier of the East as is. Besides Rose, Hinrich, Salmons, Deng, Noah, Thomas, and even the rookie Taj Gibson all need to play. They have something going here. Bringing Iverson into the situation would change everything and possibly knock them off course. Not worth the risk.
Magic
They’re thinking championship or bust and they have the pieces to get there. So close a year ago, they added Vince Carter at the shooting guard spot to pair with Jameer Nelson to hopefully get over the top. Both of these players need to be on the floor 35 minutes per game. The Magic have arguably the best 9-man rotation in the league. Messing with the team chemistry on their way to a title run would be a big mistake.
Jazz
Iverson and Jerry Sloan? No.
Kings
One of the teams that showed some interest in A.I. in the off-season, but it was purely for financial reasons with the franchise floundering economically. Instead, they let him go and drafted a very promising rookie in Tyreke Evans to pair with sharp-shooter Kevin Martin in the backcourt. This team is going nowhere in the near future and needs to think long-term.
Spurs
An argument could be made that a situation like this could work. Iverson would have to agree to be a spot scorer off the bench, potentially only playing 20 minutes a night, which, based on his behavior over the past 6 months, is not going to happen. The Spurs went out and got Richard Jefferson in the off-season to fill that scorers role. Besides, Iverson on the Spurs just doesn’t ‘fit’. He’s not their type of player.
Just for fun let’s look at one more team:
Grizzlies
A team that is definitely not playing for now. They have a guard/swingman rotation that could easily be there for years to come. Conley, Mayo, and Gay (I like to refer to Mayo and Gay as one person…Ody Gayo) are all young, talented, and going to get better. All Iverson would do is disrupt this process. Where does he play? Does he start? Who goes to the bench?
Last week Iverson complained after his FIRST GAME (yes, first…like #1…like the number right before 2….uno in spanish) that he’s not a guy who comes off the bench. What? I’m confused. Wasn’t this topic discussed at some point during the negotiations this past summer? No one brought up what A.I.’s role was going to be? Was he surprised when he walked out on the court for the jump ball and Coach Hollins said “Sorry buddy, here’s your seat. I’ll get you in there soon.”?
Now Allen Iverson is currently taking a leave of absence from the team for “personal reasons” and subsequently, rumors of his retirement have begun to circulate. What a mess.
He can’t go out like this.
He deserves better.
I’m just not sure what ‘The Answer’ is.