Allen Iverson Wants Back in the NBA
Added on Feb 16, 2012 by Scott in
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Eleven-time All-Star and former NBA MVP Allen Iverson is currently not playing basketball, but he hasn’t ruled out a return to the NBA. Iverson, who last played for Beşiktaş Milangaz in the Turkish league, is reportedly willing to suit up for a Caribbean team or even accept a D-League contract for one more opportunity to play at the highest level.
Iverson has been publicly mum on his future, but a source close to him (relative, agent) expressed a strong desire to mount a comeback.
“Allen only wants to play if there’s a possibility that it leads to the NBA,” the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “That’s the only way he would go to one of these lower leagues. He wants to get back to the NBA and leave the game on his terms.”
Thus far, no NBA teams have displayed interest in acquiring the 36-year-old’s services. His last stint in the league was a return trip to Philadelphia in 2009-10, where he averaged 13.9 points in 25 games. He spent the fall of 2010 in Turkey after inking a two-year, $4 million deal, but calf surgery ended his run in January 2011.
Iverson’s financial woes could be playing a part in his desire to land on a roster. According to various reports, a January court order garnished nearly $860,000 from his bank account to repay an outstanding debt owed to a Georgia jeweler. Representatives from both the Puerto Rican and South American leagues have allegedly contacted Iverson’s people, but no offers have been placed on the table.
Iverson was still playing at a high level as recent as the 2007-08 season, when he netted 26.4 points and 7.1 assists with the Nuggets. A series of trades and ailments have left the four-time scoring champion a shell of his former self. Gone are his signature speed and quickness. One of the most prolific scorers in the history of the NBA is now an unwanted man.
Source: ESPN.com
