Allen Iverson, known as 'the Answer', played 14 seasons in the NBA. He won multiple awards including NBA MVP in 2001. Iverson is considered one of the greatest scorers and guards in basketball history.
Ann Iverson gave birth to Allen Iverson, one of the most talented basketball players of all time, in Hampton, Virginia. Despite living in a dangerous and crime-infested area, Iverson rose to become a star in the basketball world.
In June 1992, Allen Iverson, a two-sport athlete, attended Bethel High School in Virginia where he was named the national player of the year in basketball and football. He successfully led both teams to state championships in the same year.
On February 14, 1993, Allen Iverson encountered legal issues.
At Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Allen Iverson averaged 23 points per game and won two Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year awards in just two years before deciding to leave school to play professionally. His college career was marked by impressive achievements.
In his sophomore year, Allen Iverson once again won the defensive player of the year award and led his team to the elite 8 in the NCAA tournament.
Allen Iverson, known as 'The Answer', had a significant impact on the NBA with his electrifying style of play and his cultural influence, especially among younger fans.
On January 1, 1996, Allen Iverson was drafted as the first pick in the 1996 NBA Lottery.
Allen Iverson and his friends were involved in a fight at a bowling alley where Iverson was accused of hitting a woman in the head with a chair. Despite being the only ones charged, Iverson was sentenced to 15 years in jail. However, he was released after 4 months when no hard evidence was found in the video footage of the incident.
Allen Iverson was drafted into the NBA on June 26, 1996. He was selected as the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, marking the beginning of his professional basketball career.
Allen Iverson won the NBA Rookie of the Year award after an impressive season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 23.5 points and 7.6 assists per game during his rookie year.
On November 12, 1996, Allen Iverson scored a then career-high of 35 points, along with 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals in a road win over the New York Knicks.
In his freshman season, Allen Iverson surpassed Wilt Chamberlain's rookie record of three straight games with at least 40 points by achieving this feat in five consecutive games, including scoring 50 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 12, 1997.
On August 22, 1997, Allen Iverson faced legal issues once more.
In July 1998, two of Allen Iverson's friends borrowed his Mercedes and were arrested on drug charges in Virginia. Iverson himself was not charged in this incident.
In August 1998, Allen Iverson and a friend were pulled over by a police officer while speeding home late at night. Iverson was found to be in possession of an unregistered Glock 26 handgun and marijuana. As a result, he was sentenced to 4 weeks of community service.
On January 26, 1999, Allen Iverson signed a six-year, $70.9 million max contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers.
During the 2000-01 NBA season, Allen Iverson had a remarkable performance where he secured his second scoring title, first steals title, first All-Star Game MVP, and led the 76ers to an Eastern Conference title, ultimately winning the NBA Most Valuable Player award.
In October 2000, NBA commissioner David Stern criticized Allen Iverson for derogatory lyrics towards women and gays in an unreleased rap album.
In December 2000, Allen Iverson led the Philadelphia 76ers to a franchise record 10 consecutive wins, showcasing his leadership and skill on the court.
After the Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2001-2002 NBA playoffs, coach Larry Brown criticized Allen Iverson for missing team practices. Iverson famously responded with a rant emphasizing the word 'practice' multiple times.
Allen Iverson led the 76'ers to the NBA Finals in 2001. Despite scoring 51 points in the first game, the Lakers proved to be too strong and swept the 76'ers.
In 2001, Allen Iverson made history by becoming the first point guard to win the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. During his MVP season, Iverson averaged an impressive 31.1 points per game.
In April 2002, Allen Iverson won his third scoring title, averaging 31.4 points per game during the season.
In May 2002, after being eliminated in the playoffs, Allen Iverson famously criticized critics complaining about his practice habits in a memorable press conference.
In October 2002, Allen Iverson's friend Rashan R. Langeford, who was part of his wedding, was shot and killed in Virginia. Iverson paid tribute by wearing a black armband during games.
On April 29, 2003, Allen Iverson was named to the 2003 USA Senior National Team. This selection recognized his exceptional basketball skills and contribution to the sport.
Allen Iverson played a crucial role in Team USA's victory at the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. He set a single-game record with 28 points and seven 3-pointers in a game against Canada, showcasing his exceptional skills in basketball.
During the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Allen Iverson suffered a sprained right thumb in a game against Puerto Rico. This injury caused him to miss the USA's final two games in the tournament.
On February 24, 2004, Allen Iverson urinated in a trash can at Bally's Atlantic City casino and was told by casino management not to return.
During the 2004 Olympics, Allen Iverson won the bronze medal as part of the USA basketball team. He was joined by NBA rookies like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony.
On February 12, 2005, Allen Iverson had an outstanding performance by scoring 60 points in a single game, showcasing his incredible scoring ability.
On April 8, 2005, Allen Iverson recorded a career-high 16 assists in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, demonstrating his exceptional playmaking skills.
On December 9, 2005, after a game at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, Allen Iverson was overpaid $10,000 in chips by a dealer. When asked to return the excess chips, Iverson refused, leading to a heated argument with the casino staff.
Allen Iverson and Chris Webber arrived late to the Sixers' fan appreciation night and home game finale in 2006. Both players were fined for not reporting 90 minutes before the game as expected.
On November 29, 2006, Allen Iverson missed a bowling event with season ticket holders and VIPs, attributing his absence to medication he was taking after undergoing dental treatment. The incident resulted in a fine from the team.
During a game on December 6, 2006, Allen Iverson exited to the locker room in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Chicago Bulls, citing back spasms as the reason for his departure.
On December 8, 2006, the Philadelphia 76ers instructed Allen Iverson not to participate in the evening's match against Washington. In a statement, Iverson suggested that a change, possibly a trade, might be beneficial for all parties involved.
On December 11, 2006, Allen Iverson's locker was cleaned out and his nameplate removed by the Sixers' PR staff, although they still referred to it as 'his locker'.
On December 19, 2006, the 76ers traded Allen Iverson and Ivan McFarlin to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two 2007 first-round draft picks.
Allen Iverson was fined $25,000 by the NBA for criticizing referee Steve Javie after a game between the Nuggets and the Philadelphia 76ers on January 2, 2007. Iverson expressed his frustration with the officiating.
Allen Iverson returned to Philadelphia on March 19, 2008, as a member of the Detroit Pistons. He received a standing ovation from the sell-out crowd after scoring 32 points in a game against the Sixers.
On November 3, 2008, Allen Iverson was traded from the Denver Nuggets to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and Cheikh Samb. Iverson, known for wearing jersey #3, switched to number 1 for the Pistons.
On February 1, 2009, Allen Iverson was involved in a legal case where he was sued. The details of the lawsuit were not specified.
On April 3, 2009, it was announced that Allen Iverson would not play the remainder of the 2008–09 season due to an ongoing back injury. This decision came after Iverson expressed his reluctance to be moved to the bench.
On September 10, 2009, Allen Iverson signed a one-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite initially expressing commitment to the team, Iverson left the Grizzlies on November 7, 2009, citing personal reasons.
On November 25, 2009, analyst Stephen A. Smith published a statement on his blog attributed to Iverson, announcing plans for retirement while expressing confidence in his ability to compete at the highest level.
Less than a week after announcing retirement plans, on November 30, 2009, Iverson and his representatives met with a Philadelphia 76ers delegation to discuss his return to the team. He accepted a contract offer two days later.
On December 7, 2009, Iverson made his return to Philadelphia, receiving a warm welcome from the crowd. Despite a loss against the Denver Nuggets, Iverson performed well, contributing 11 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, a steal, and no turnovers.
On January 3, 2010, Iverson returned to Denver to face the Nuggets, scoring 17 points and providing seven assists in a 108–105 win. He was also voted as a starter for the All-Star Game for the 11th consecutive season.
On February 22, 2010, Iverson left the 76ers indefinitely to attend to his daughter's health issues. The reason for his departure was later revealed to be related to his daughter's Kawasaki Disease.
On March 2, 2010, Tawanna Iverson filed for divorce from Allen Iverson, seeking custody of their children, child support, and alimony payments. The couple reconciled less than a month after the divorce was finalized in 2013.
After playing his last game with the Philadelphia 76ers on March 20, 2010, reports emerged about Iverson's personal struggles including gambling, alcoholism, and divorce with his wife Tawanna.
On October 26, 2010, Iverson agreed to a two-year, $4 million contract with Beşiktaş, a Turkish Super League team. He made his debut on November 16, 2010, scoring 15 points in a game against Hemofarm.
On November 19, 2010, Allen Iverson's financial struggles came to the forefront as reports indicated that he was facing bankruptcy. This event shed light on the financial challenges Iverson was experiencing during that period.
Allen Iverson, after earning approximately $200 million from his playing career and endorsements, filed for bankruptcy by the end of 2010.
Due to no team signing him, Allen Iverson was forced to retire from the NBA as an aging star on August 18, 2011.
In 2012, Allen Iverson signed a contract to play for a Turkish basketball team after not finding a team in the NBA. However, his overseas career was short-lived as he returned to the USA after one season due to calf surgery.
On March 2, 2013, Allen Iverson went through a divorce.
On October 30, 2013, Allen Iverson announced his retirement from basketball, stating that he had lost his desire to play.
In 2014, Allen Iverson's jersey was retired by the Philadelphia 76ers and raised to the rafters of The Center, honoring his contributions to the team.
In an appearance on CBS This Morning in 2015, Allen Iverson addressed rumors of financial struggles, denying any notion of struggling in his life. He dismissed the rumors as a myth and emphasized his financial stability.
On August 14, 2015, American singer Post Malone released the song 'White Iverson,' referencing Allen Iverson in the title and lyrics. The song gained significant popularity and recognition.
In 2016, Allen Iverson was honored with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport.
In 2017, the 3-on-3 professional basketball league BIG3 was announced, with Allen Iverson set to be a player and coach on 3's Company.
In 2021, Allen Iverson and former NBA player Al Harrington announced a business partnership to launch 'The Iverson Collection', a line of cannabis products. This collaboration aimed to reduce stigma around cannabis use and develop innovative business initiatives.
In 2022, Allen Iverson was honored by being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team, recognizing him as one of the greatest players in the league's history.
In October 2023, Allen Iverson was appointed as Reebok's Vice President of Basketball. This role marked a significant career move for Iverson, showcasing his influence and expertise in the basketball industry.
On April 2, 2024, Joel Embiid scored 24 points in his return from knee surgery as the Sixers topped the Thunder 109-105.
On April 12, 2024, Allen Iverson was immortalized with a sculpture alongside 76ers greats Julius Erving and Wilt Chamberlain.
Recent news emerged in 2024 that Allen Iverson was accused of abducting his own children after failing to return them to his ex-wife, who has full custody, following a vacation to Charlotte, North Carolina.