Around the Hornet

Overrated, waste of talent and washed up have all been words used recently to describe the No.1 pick of the 1996 draft of the National Basketball Association, Allen Iverson.

It is sad and almost hard to stomach the way Iverson's basketball career has come to an abrupt end. Playing playground basketball as a kid, I have memories of kids wanting to be Michael Jordan, Julius Erving or Larry Bird. I always wanted to be like Iverson.

A.I. was a great athlete. He was a phenomenal quarterback and basketball star in high school, he was always undersized but the guy was a fierce competitor and always had the "I'm better than anyone" attitude and wasn't ashamed to let anyone know.

Iverson made a splash on the NBA scene from the moment his name was called onto the podium, saying he couldn't wait to play the Chicago Bulls so that he could face Jordan. All Iverson did his rookie year was be named the NBA's Rookie of the Year and averaged a ridiculous 24 points per game along with seven assists and two steals.

Prior to Iverson joining the Philadelphia 76ers, the franchise had not made the playoffs in five years and had only won more than 26 games once in that span. In his third year, the 76ers made it to the post season and would do so six out of the 10 years he was in town.

Aside from winning the Rookie of the Year award, Iverson was an 11-time All-Star, a four-time scoring champion and was named Most Valuable Player in 2001 leading the 76ers to the NBA finals. 

Unfortunately for Iverson, it is easy for someone to forget about all the great things he did on the court when drinking and gambling issues are present.

Issues that have both caused the erosion of his dominance on the basketball court, have led to Iverson's dismissal from the franchise that drafted him but most importantly have led to his wife and high school sweet heart to file for divorce.

Philadelphia Inquirer Columnist Stephen A. Smith stated that Iverson will either drink or gamble his life away, in a column posted on Monday. To see something like that written about an athlete that many have followed for years is heart-wrenching.

Issues like this associated with a name like Iverson helps people realize that these athletes we look up to are nothing more than human beings. They, like you and I, are not perfect. If your next door neighbor was facing the same issues no one would care and that is the reality of it, but it's Allen Iverson and every media outlet is going to bash him.

It's the same Iverson that went on a "practice" tirade, the same Iverson that is known for not having any type of respect for any type of law, the same Iverson that was very public about the thought of coming off the bench.  

Although people would love to see Iverson get through all of this and hopefully return to the NBA for one last stint, what is more concerning is his post-basketball well-being. There is no doubt that he still has the tools to be competitive, he is only 34.

It is baffling to me how people can call Iverson overrated; the guy averaged 27 points per contest in his 14-year NBA career.

The 76ers have seen first round exits from the playoffs and have not had a record better than .500 in the two seasons following Iverson's departure in a trade that sent him to Denver.