Muller: Allen Iverson Wants To Return To The NBA, Would You Take Him?
By Shawn Muller--
CHICAGO (CBS) Once upon a time, Allen Iverson was one of the best players in the NBA.
Quite simply, when Allen Iverson was in his prime, the man was an absolute beast on the basketball court.
It was almost like he was a type of professional basketball player that we just hadn't seen before. Prior to "The Answer," we just hadn't seen a player rocking the cornrows and the arm sleeve. Other than Dennis Rodman, we hadn't seen a player completely covered in tattoos, and never had we seen a player so small in stature, play so big night in and night out.
Allen Iverson, 14 Seasons In The NBA
-NBA Rookie of the Year
-NBA MVP
-NBA All-Star Game MVP (twice)
-4 Time NBA Scoring Champ
-11 Time NBA All-Star
-Sixth All-Time in Scoring Average (26.7 PPG)
-2nd All-Time in Playoff Scoring Average (29.7 PPG)
Iverson was--in a sense--a trend setter when he was at the top of his game, over a decade ago.
And now, at the age of 36, it seems as if he wants to give the NBA one last try.
Allen Iverson wants to come back to the NBA next season--assuming they even play due to the labor dispute--and finish his career where it all began, after a short--and injury filled stint--with Besiktas, a professional basketball team in Turkey.
I have said it once, and I will say it again:
Allen Iverson was one of my favorite players in the NBA. When he was at the top of his game, nobody--outside of maybe Kobe Bryant--could score the way that A.I. could, nobody hustled more than he did, and nobody gave up their body the way that he did.
But, if a team were willing to take another chance on the former MVP, just how willing would Iverson be to accept a diminished role?
The competitor in him probably thinks he is still the same type of player that was responsible for the most famous cross-over in the history of the game when he broke the great Michael Jordan's ankles. The reality is that Iverson is now an injury-prone former star with diminishing skills who is quickly approaching the age of 40.
With that being said though, I say that if A.I. can handle being a role player, then I say why not give him a shot? He is one of the greatest players this generation has ever seen, and I think he has earned the right--at the very least--to retire as an NBA player.
And there are some teams out there that could potentially find his services to be useful.
If you are a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Washington Wizards, the New Jersey Nets, or the Sacramento Kings, why not take a chance on him? There is no pressure to win right now, your team is probably not a playoff contender, and he is still a "name" that will put butts in the seats.
If you are a contender like the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls, or the Oklahoma City Thunder, having a guy like Iverson could possibly be a good idea as well. If healthy, he is still capable of putting up points when needed, and, if he is willing to accept being a role player, and he gives you a better option off the bench than what you already have, then why not?
Teams could do a lot worse...
Do you agree with Shawn? Post your comments below.
Shawn Muller has lived in the great city of Chicago for 7 years. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, in October of 2010, Shawn received his certificate in radio broadcasting. In his free time, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa and 3 year old daughter Ava, catching any live sporting event, and traveling. Check out his radio show, Grab Some Bench with Muller and Bangser" every Thursday night at 8:30 P.M., at www.blogtalkradio.com/spmuller24. Read more of his blogs here.
