Iverson, Allen

When Allen was born, his mother Ann was 15 years old. His biological father, Allen Broughton, also a teenager , did not participate in raising his son ^[1] . Shortly after the birth of Allen, his mother met with a worker at the Norfolk shipyard Michael Freeman, they had two daughters, Brandy and Aisha ^[2] .

At school, Allen Iverson became interested in American football and dreamed of a career as a professional player. Iverson played as a quarterback ; his idol was Walter Payton - the star of the Chicago Bears team in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Among his peers he stood out for speed, a good understanding of the game and an excellent pass. When Allen was nine years old, his mother bought him Air Jordan brand sneakers and enrolled him in a basketball camp. At first, Iverson did not like basketball, he preferred more contact American football, but after spending time in the camp with his friends on the football team, he became interested in a new game ^[2] .

In 1990, Iverson’s stepfather was arrested for drug trafficking and imprisoned, his mother had health problems after giving birth to her second daughter, and since she did not have health insurance, almost all the family’s money went to her treatment. Allen at that time only went to high school, at the age of 15 he was the best athlete at Bethel School in Hampton . Sometimes he played basketball for money in order to earn at least food ^[1] . A year later, Iverson’s family was evicted from the apartment for debts, Ann moved with her daughters to the other end of the city, and Allen, to stay at school, began to live with his family friend, Gary Moore, who had previously taught him how to play football. Difficult living conditions made Iverson more purposeful - he set himself the task of achieving a sports scholarship, going to college in order to leave for the NFL and provide for his family in a year.

In 1991 and 1992, Iverson was recognized as the best quarterback of Virginia among students, in 1992 he led Bethel High School to the title of state champion. In the final game of the championship, he scored 200 yards in assists and intercepted two assists of the opponent. Although basketball was still in second place for Allen, his success in the game opened up new perspectives for him. Breeders from various universities began to pay attention to a low (183 cm) player who, already in his second year of high school, playing at the point guard position, broke the state record, gaining 948 points per season. On February 13, 2003, his third number was forever assigned to him in the school basketball team during a ceremony honoring the winners of the 1993 state championship ^[3] .

In February 1993, events occurred in Iverson’s life that nearly put an end to his future in sports. On Valentine's Day, Allen and his friends (all African-American ) encountered a group of white young people in a bowling club. There was a fight between them, after which the police arrested three people from Iverson's company, as well as himself. They were charged with group assault and mutilation. Iverson denied his guilt and claimed that he had left the scene before the fight, but several witnesses pointed to him as the instigator ^[4] . In July 1993, a court convicted Iverson and sentenced him to five years in prison at Newport News Prison. In December of that year, the Governor of Virginia, Douglas Wilder , pardoned Allen, and in 1995 the Virginia Court of Appeal closed the case and removed Iverson’s criminal record for lack of evidence ^[1] .

After leaving prison in the middle of his last year at high school, Iverson did not return to Bethel, but began to study in a special school for those who were lagging behind in order to prepare for the final exams. In the spring of 1994, at the request of his mother, Allen was offered a sports scholarship by John Thompson, head coach of the Georgetown University basketball team ^[1] .

Arriving on the campus of Georgetown University, Iverson immediately impressed the partners and the coach of the basketball team with his skill, although he spent a considerable period of time without serious basketball training.

John Thompson initially decided to make Iverson “the sixth number” of his team, but Allen in the first game proved to the coach that he deserves a place in the starting five. However, Iverson’s game was far from ideal - in an attack he was too keen on an individual game, forgetting about his partners, single-handedly tried to complete the team’s attacks, not always successfully, but if he gave the passes, they turned out to be inconvenient for the partners. As a result, the team, suffering from a lack of understanding between the players, showed an unstable game ^[2] .

At the same time, Iverson’s aggressiveness had a positive effect on his game, helping tenaciously hold the opponent’s defenders. As a result, after the first season at the NCAA, Iverson was awarded the title of Best Newcomer and Best Defensive Player of the Big East Conference. Iverson was one of the three best players in the conference, along with Ray Allen from Connecticut and Kerry Kittles from Villanova. ^[2]

In the 1995/1996 season, Iverson again played excellently in defense, successfully acted on interceptions and rebounds, and also improved his statistics on points and assists. The team of Georgetown University, largely thanks to Iverson's contribution, confidently won the regular championship of the conference and reached the final tournament of the NCAA, in which they reached the 1/8 finals, where they lost to the team of the University of Massachusetts , the main star of which was Marcus Camby . At the end of the season, he was again recognized as the best defensive player of the conference, and was also included in the first symbolic team of the student championship.

After two seasons at Georgetown University, Iverson put forward his candidacy for the NBA draft . In the student league, he played 67 games in two years, in which he averaged 23 points, made 4.6 assists and 3.2 interceptions ^[3] . Allen set nine records for the university’s basketball team, the third number was withdrawn from circulation and forever assigned to it ^[5] .

Philadelphia 76 (1996-2006)

June 26, 1996 Iverson was selected under the first number in the NBA draft by the Philadelphia Seventi Sixers club, becoming the lowest player selected under the first number of the NBA draft . The composition of the club at that time was rather weak: in addition to Iverson, only defender Jerry Stackhouse , Derrick Coleman and Clarence Witherspoon stood out. In this team, Iverson immediately became a key player, he soon became known as the fastest NBA player, not one defense could cope with his high-speed dribbling. In the 1996/1997 season, Allen showed impressive performance (23.5 points on average per game), regularly supplied partners with gears (7.5 on average per game) and was recognized as the best rookie of the year by the end of the debut season. The rookie game was the only bright spot for the team, unsuccessfully performing in the regular season (22 wins with 60 defeats). For fans of Philadelphia, Iverson immediately became an idol, but outside the team, the attitude towards him was different. Many did not like that the young player was arrogant in public, unflattering about his rivals and NBA veterans. Michael Jordan recommended Iverson to behave more respectfully, to which Allen replied that he does not respect anyone ^[6] . Before the NBA rookie match, in which Iverson took part, the audience booed him ^[2] .

After an outstanding debut season in the NBA, Iverson again began to have problems with the law. On August 3, 1997, Richmond police stopped the car in which Iverson and two of his friends were stopped for speeding, while inspecting the police, Allen found an unregistered pistol and two cigarettes with marijuana . The whole company was arrested and brought to trial. Iverson escaped imprisonment, but the court ordered him to undergo a drug test every month for two years and assigned him 100 hours of community service. The leadership of the NBA, known for its harsh drug policy, disqualified him for one match ^[7] .

In the summer of 1997, as the head coach of Philadelphia, Johnny Davis , with whom the team failed the previous two seasons, was replaced by veteran coaching workshop Larry Brown . In addition to changes in the team’s leadership, Philadelphia’s team also changed significantly: Tim Thomas, Theo Ratliff , Joe Smith , Aron Mackey and Eric Snow appeared on the team, Stackhouse and Witherspoon left. Brown immediately took up the education of Iverson, who often played only on himself, not noticing partners. The opponents, in turn, found a remedy against Iverson’s high-speed passages under the ring - they gave him more space on the perimeter, from where he threw very weakly, falling from less than 30% of three-pointer. In the 1997/1998 season, Seventi Sixers failed again, winning only 31 of 82 games and again not making it to the playoffs .

Iverson worked hard on his long shots in the 1998 offseason that dragged on due to a lockout. In January 1999, Allen signed with Philadelphia a new six-year contract worth $ 70 million ^[8] . Brown continued his course on changing the Philadelphia line-up that he started last season and transferred to the position of point guard Eric Snow. Iverson began to play the position of an attacking defender , so he was opposed by more dimensional and less agile players, against whom his signature high-speed passes worked perfectly. In the shortened season, which began only in February 1999, Iverson averaged 26.8 points per game, for the first time becoming the best NBA player in terms of performance and ending up in the first NBA team . “Philadelphia” got into the playoffs that season, winning 28 games with 22 defeats, Orlando Magic basketball players were beaten in the first round, but Indiana was stronger in the second.

In the 1999/2000 season , Philadelphia was already a strong team with a strong roster. The three-time NBA champion, who came from the Chicago Bulls, Tony Kukoch brought to the team a valuable experience of victories. Iverson was no longer required to attack almost alone to get a victory for the team. Although the ending of the season failed Allen due to a finger injury, he again showed very high performance - 28.4 points on average per game, the second result in the league after Shaquille O'Neill . In February, he was first selected to participate in the NBA All-Star Game , and at the end of the season he was included in the second national team. In the first round of the playoffs, “Philadelphia” beat “ Charlotte Hornets ”, but in the second round, “Indiana” was again an insurmountable obstacle, having won in the total of six matches with a score of 4-2.

In the middle of the 2000/2001 season, center Dickembe Mutombo moved to Philadelphia. Together with Allen Iverson, they composed a balanced duet, which brought the team to the final, where in the series of games she lost to the Los Angeles Lakers with a score of 4: 1. However, Allen was recognized as the MVP of the season . He became the best in points scored in the season.

Denver Nuggets (2006-2008)

On December 19, 2006, Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets , along with Ivan MacFarlin for Andre Miller , Joe Smith and the right to choose two players in the first round of the 2007 draft. At the time of the exchange, Iverson was the association's second scorer, while new teammate Carmelo Anthony topped the league's snipers list. ^[9] December 23, 2006 Iverson made his debut for the "Nuggets". In a lost match against the Sacramento Kings , he scored 22 points and 10 assists ^[10] . In his first year, Iverson helped the Nuggets reach the playoffs. In the first round, they won the first game, but then lost the remaining four San Antonio Spurs ^[11] .

Detroit

On November 3, 2008, Iverson was exchanged at Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups , Antonio MacDyess and Sheikh Samba . In “Detroit,” Iverson did not play, because the coach did not give him the freedom in attacking actions that he had in “Philadelphia” and “Denver”, and instead of the more familiar role of an attacking defender, he began to play the position of point guard. At the end of the season, coach Michael Curry removed Iverson from the starting five, giving young Rodney Stakey a chance, which Allen publicly stated that he would rather end his career than be in reserve ^[12] . It was later announced that Iverson would not take part in the playoff series due to injury. As a result, Iverson left Detroit in the summer of 2009, becoming a free agent .

Memphis

On September 10, 2009, Iverson signed a one-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies Club. But after playing three games as a substitute, he left the team on November 7 for “personal reasons”, and on November 16 reached an agreement with the club to terminate the contract ^[13] . After that, the management of the New York Knicks club expressed its interest in the services of a veteran, but later refused to sign a contract with him ^[14] . November 25, 2009 Iverson, not finding himself a new club, announced that he was going to end his career as a player ^[15] .

Return to Philadelphia

At the end of November, information appeared that the leadership of Philadelphia, the first club in Iverson’s career, was in talks about his return to the team ^[16] . On December 2, Iverson signed a contract with his former club until the end of the 2009/2010 season ^[17] . His salary amounted to $ 1.3 million - a minimum for NBA veterans with experience of more than 10 seasons, with the club paying only half of the salary, the second is provided by the league ^[18] . He returned on December 7 in a match against his other former team, the Denver Nuggets. Iverson replaced in the starting five of “Philadelphia” Luis Williams , who broke his jaw at the beginning of the season and dropped out for a long time ^[18] .

On February 22, 2010, Iverson left the club indefinitely, citing the need to spend more time with the ill four-year-old daughter, Messiah. In early February, due to personal problems, Allen missed five games and the All-Star Game of 2010 , in which he was to play in the starting five for the team of the Eastern Conference ^[19] . On March 2, a representative of Philadelphia announced that in the 2009/2010 season Iverson would not return to the site ^[20] . On March 7, 2010, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Stephen Smith, citing numerous sources in the NBA, wrote that Iverson had problems with alcohol and gambling (according to Smith, a basketball player is not allowed to appear in a number of casinos in Detroit and Atlantic City ). It was also reported that Allen's wife, Tavanna, after eight years of marriage filed for divorce. ^[21]

On October 25, 2010, Allen Iverson signed a two-year contract with the Turkish club Besiktas ^{[22] [23] [24]} . On October 29 at a press conference in New York , Iverson himself commented on this situation ^[25] :

“At the moment in my career is a very difficult period. I understand that I am physically and psychologically prepared to play basketball at a high level. If I cannot speak in the NBA, this does not mean that I cannot play at all, which is why I accepted the invitation of Besiktas. I want to show everything that I am capable of now, and help my new club ”

- Reuters

In January 2011, Iverson returned to the United States for shin surgery, after which he no longer played with Besiktas.

In the new BIG3 league, which started in the summer of 2017, Iverson is the coach, player and captain of 3's Company.

With an increase of 183 cm, Iverson scored an average of 26.7 points per match due to excellent technique, excellent ball possession and hurricane speed. Allen Iverson is one of the most recognizable point guards (attacking defenders) in the world ^[26] . When Allen just got into the NBA , despite the great pressure from the whole public, he said: "I can beat anyone in the league." All his actions were unpredictable for opponents. He had a huge number of feints, false gears, crossovers , passages with the threat of a throw.

In the summer of 1995, Iverson became the champion of the Summer Universiade in Japan as part of the US student team. Future NBA players, Kerry Kittles , Ray Allen , Tim Duncan , Otella Harrington and Austin Kroshir also got into the national team. Iverson was the best in the national team in terms of points (16.7), assists (6.1) and interceptions (2.9) per game. At the tournament, in addition to the outstanding level of the game, he noted a fight with one of the partners in the team due to the fact that he made fun of him ^[2] .

Allen Iverson married Tawanna on August 3, 2001. They have four children: daughters Tiaur and Messiah, and sons Allen Jr. and Aizaya Rasan ^[3] .

In the summer of 2002, a quarrel broke out between the Iversons because Allen suspected his wife of adultery. As a result, he beat his wife and put her naked from home, after which Tavanna called the police. At the same time, Iverson, along with his uncle Gregory, went in search of his wife and began with a visit to her proposed lover, his cousin Sean Bowman. Neither wife nor cousin Iverson was found in the apartment, but Bowman’s neighbor Charles Jones was there, from whom Allen demanded to name the place where his wife was hiding, threatening with a gun. Soon after, Iverson was arrested by the police, and he was charged with 14 counts, from illegal entry into someone else’s home to terrorism. If found guilty on all counts, Allen could face a prison term of up to 54 years ^[27] . However, in July 2002, the court found the evidence of the witnesses to be contradictory and found Iverson not guilty on 12 of the 14 counts ^[28] .

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Iverson was seriously involved in music and in 2000 was going to release a rap album under the pseudonym Jewelz. But the release of the Non-Fiction album , later renamed Misunderstood (Misunderstanding), did not take place, as many, including NBA Commissioner David Stern , found Iverson's lyrics to be aggressive, offensive, and antisocial. As a result, in the fall of 2001, Allen announced that he would no longer do hip-hop ^[29] .

Айверсон увлекается рисованием, читает журнал Sports Illustrated , его любимые города — Нью-Йорк и Филадельфия , любимая еда — лазанья , любимый актёр — Сэмюэль Л. Джексон ^[3] .

• Избирался 11 раз для участия в Матче всех звёзд НБА : 2000—2010 (в 2007 и 2010 годах участия не принимал)
• Самый ценный игрок регулярного сезона НБА : 2001
• Новичок года НБА : 1997
• Включён в первую сборную звёзд НБА : 1999, 2001, 2005
• Включён во вторую сборную звёзд НБА : 2000, 2002, 2003
• Включён в третью сборную звёзд НБА : 2006
• Включён в первую сборную новичков НБА : 1997
• Самый ценный игрок Матча всех звёзд НБА : 2001, 2005
• Лидер сезона НБА по количеству очков в среднем за игру: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005
• Баскетбольный Зал славы : 2016 ^[30] .

NBA Statistics

•  On Wikimedia Commons has media related to Allen Iverson
• Allen Iverson in the NBA official website (English).
• Allen Iverson online USOC (Eng.)
• Performance statistics at Basketball-Reference.com (eng.)