He’s universally adored for his unshakable sense of self and steadfast resiliency, it’s what helps him get up off the floor time and again after throwing himself into throngs of men twice his size. ( Pause.) But it’s also what critics point to in citing his inability to turn his style of play into winning basketball. But he’s still one of the most potent scorers in the game. But he’s proven to be a difficult fit. But you can’t ask Allen Iverson to just ‘fit in’ any more than you can Shaq or Steve Nash. They don’t fit your style, you fit theirs. But then are they as valuable as advertised? But wouldn’t you want to take that chance? But what if we could get LeBron?
And that’s why Allen Iverson isn’t going to be a Piston next year either. Too many questions with the chance at a sure thing looming on the horizon.
But Iverson’s also nothing if not fiercely loyal and that begs the question of how he’ll handle the rest of this season. Does he feel used? Trapped? It’s one thing for the average player to find themselves being used as an expiring contract, but if a passionate player such as himself isn’t driven by the hunt for a championship or a commitment to a franchise then what keeps him going? What is his focus? I asked him post game.
“I understand that it’s something I can’t control. The best part about the whole thing is that if I do get traded or I don’t sign back here, I won’t be going overseas. Long as they don’t trade me somewhere else out of the league. I want to win a championship so bad over here. I just try to stay positive cause I’m doing what I wanna do, I’m living my childhood dream and I don’t think it can be a bad situation if I’m in an NBA uniform. This summer, there’s no reason for me to be unhappy in my situation cause this is going to be the first time in my career that I’m gonna be able to choose where I wanna play and that’s gonna be the fun part about it. I’m looking forward to doing whatever I can do for this team right here but I understand that it is a business and there won’t be no hard feelings about what happens either way. I’m happy. As long as my family is healthy and happy, I’m cool.”
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“At this point in my career, I’m not going nowhere where they don’t play my style. And I’ve got the opportunity to go where I wanna go. It’s my choice, so why would I go somewhere where they don’t play my style and I’m not gonna be utillized? I feel like I’m still effective in this game and I can be if you put the ball in my hands, so obviously I’m gonna go somewhere where they want me to play like Allen Iverson, cause I can’t play like nobody else. “
