The 11-time All-Star has won the NBA scoring title five times and is considered one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA.
Judging by the lack of offers he received as a free agent this summer and after he was waived by the Grizzlies in November, Allen Iverson isn't very popular among league executives. Whether it be age, attitude, style of play or a combination of the three, the value of the diminutive guard has diminished quickly over the last two seasons.
But judging by the final results of All-Star balloting, Iverson will always have his fans.
Though he's played just 19 games this season, Iverson received 1,269,568 votes and finished second among Eastern Conference guards in this year's balloting. Health permitting, he'll be starting alongside Dwyane Wade in the visitors' backcourt at Cowboys Stadium on Feb. 14. It's Iverson's 11th straight All-Star selection. (Click here for West starters)
"Without the fans, there wouldn't be no us," Iverson told NBA.com earlier this week. "For them to want to see me, regardless of what's been going on, that says a lot about how they feel about me. I just thank 'em for that."
Iverson has been dealing with arthritis in his left knee, which has forced him to miss five games since he rejoined the Sixers. He doesn't have the burst that has allowed him to relentlessly get to the basket in years past. And he'll keep his body in mind when it comes to making a decision on whether or not to take the court in Dallas.
"I want to be able to make sure my fans are happy, because they want to see me play," he said. "But I have to be smart about the future of this franchise right here."
Still, knowing Iverson's desire to play the game and the love he has for those that support him, it's very likely he'll be on the floor when the game tips off at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
Joining Iverson and Wade in the starting lineup for the Eastern Conference will be forwards LeBron James and Kevin Garnett, and center Dwight Howard.
It's the 13th All-Star selection for Garnett, the sixth for both James and Wade, and the fourth for Howard.
There are clearly more deserving guards than Iverson. A case can be made for Chris Bosh over Garnett, who is expected to play this Friday after missing the last 10 games with a hyperextended right knee. But there can be no argument with the trio of Wade, James and Howard. And they rightfully dominated the voting at their positions. James was the overall leading vote-getter with 2,549,793 votes, while Howard (2,360,096 votes) and Wade (2,327,550 votes) finished third and fourth overall respectively.
The rest of East roster will be voted on by the conference's coaches and announced Thursday, Jan. 28 on TNT. With Howard's team a disappointing six games off their pace of last season and James' supporting cast a bit more balanced, it's possible that Garnett will be the only starter who will be joined by a teammate in Dallas.
Fortunately, the starters are familiar with each other. Though Iverson has changed teams twice since, bouncing to and from the Western Conference, this is the same starting lineup that the East put on the floor last year in Phoenix, when they fell to the West, 146-119.
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PHILADELPHIA - Allen Iverson not only may come out of retirement in a matter of days. But he also could very well return to the franchise where all of his glory began.
Numerous team sources confirmed on Friday that the 76ers' brass has already talked — and talks will only escalate this weekend — about bringing Iverson back to Philadelphia. Possibly as early as next week.
It's being seriously considered," one Sixers official said before his team lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. "We know the history. We know the ups and downs. But we're also aware of what (Iverson) can do and that he's needed here. We simply can't just ignore the upside he'd bring. Not with our situation."
As of Friday night, coach Eddie Jordan was on board with bringing Iverson back, according to sources. So were officials within the club's hierarchy, along with the team's executive adviser, Sonny Hill.
The rest of Jordan's coaching staff is amenable to Iverson's return, including assistant and former Sixer Aaron McKie, one of Iverson's best friends, as well as assistant coach Randy Ayers — the former Sixers coach who had his share of run-ins with Iverson, ultimately lasting just 52 games before he was dismissed by former president and GM Billy King in 2003-04.
The Sixers say they are aware it will cost them less than $3 million to get Iverson — "possibly less than $2 million, according to another team source — and have every intention of acting on it, probably as early as Tuesday.
With the Sixers' scheduled to play San Antonio on Sunday, then Dallas on Monday, sources said it's entirely possible Jordan will fly from Dallas to Atlanta to meet with Iverson on Tuesday. That also happens to be the day Iverson is scheduled to meet with his former coach at Georgetown, John Thompson.
As far as the Sixers are concerned, it's almost a no-brainer.
Entering Friday night, the Sixers were ranked 29th in league attendance, averaging 11,820 fans. Only the Memphis Grizzlies are worse.
Jordan is said to be incredibly frustrated with everything from Elton Brand's work ethic to Andre Iguodala's inability to make plays off the dribble. The one player he absolutely loves, guard Louie Williams, is out for eight weeks with a broken jaw.
"Eddie needs a playmaker," another source said. "He needs an identity. Something to create some excitement."
To add to the misery, the Sixers are 5-11, averaging just 97.6 points. Their only bona fide shooter is Jason Kapono. So there's no question Iverson is appealing to the Sixers at the moment; even to team chairman Ed Snider, who screamed, "We're gonna trade him," before actually shipping Iverson (averaging 31.2 points per game at the time) to Denver in 2006.
The question remains, however, whether the Sixers would be appealing to Iverson.
"Scratch that," one of Iverson's confidants told me last night. "He's interested."
One thing's for sure: If Iverson returns to Philadelphia, he will be a starter.
Team sources confirmed on Friday that Iverson would be a starter because Jordan had planned on starting Williams with rookie Jrue Holiday anyway, just to put some excitement and more ball-handlers into his Princeton-style offense. So even once Williams returns from injury, he'd be in the starting lineup with Iverson.
That means Iverson will return as a starter. He'll be back in Philadelphia. And with the talent the Sixers already have on their roster, he could be the missing piece that propels them back to the playoffs.
Assuming, of course, the Sixers are willing to pull the trigger.
Under normal circumstances, considering the manner in which Iverson departed, the Sixers wouldn't do this.
"But let's face it: We're very, very boring right now," a team source said. "We have absolutely nothing to lose by bringing Iverson back. Nothing at all."
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No longer a one-man show or half of a dynamic duo, AI (17.9 ppg, 5.4 apg) is blending his considerable skills into an ensemble cast that's used to winning big.
"It's always an honor to be named an All-Star and it's a blessing to be in this league," said Iverson, twice the Game's MVP. "Being named an All-Star makes it that much more special. The fact that the fans have voted me onto the team makes this a great honor and it's truly appreciated."
The final results of fan balloting didnt exactly bring any major surprises.
Miamis Dwyane Wade (2,741,413) and Detroits Allen Iverson (1,804,649) will be in the Easts backcourt, alongside reigning All-Star MVP LeBron James of Cleveland (2,940,823) and Bostons Kevin Garnett (2,066,833), who beat New Jerseys Yi Jianlian for the starting nod by 253,004 votes.
The All-Star game is always so meaningful to me because of the fans, said James, whose 24.3-point scoring average is the highest in All-Star game history for players with four or more appearances.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (2,805,397) was the Wests top vote-getter, and will be joined at guard by New Orleans Chris Paul (2,134,798). At center, Yao (2,532,958) will start for the sixth time, along with forwards Tim Duncan of San Antonio (2,578,168) and Amare Stoudemire of Phoenix (1,460,429).
When I first heard I was leading in votes, I was shocked, to be honest with you, Howard said. I really didnt expect anything considering you have guys like Kobe, LeBron and Dwyane.
Howard entered Thursday averaging 20.2 points, 14.1 rebounds and 3.2 blocks for the Magic, who took the leagues best overall record (33-8) into a home game against the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics.
But on the national stage, Howard still might be best-known for his exploits in last years All-Star dunk contest in New Orleans, with his cape sailing on one jam and capping his night by using teammate Jameer Nelson as a prop in another slam.
Thats his element there. Hes an entertainer. He loves it, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. I think sometimes people look at that kind of thing, where Dwights out there having a good time, and they doubt the seriousness of a guy. Thats not the case at all. Hes very serious about winning and very serious about being a great player.
Van Gundy likened Howards All-Star antics to what the NBA has come to see from another giant jokester—Shaquille ONeal.
Like Shaq, Dwight is a great person who loves to make other people smile and laugh, Van Gundy said. Thats what really makes him go. He likes to have a good time and he likes to help other people have a good time. Its his nature. Its his character.
That all being said, ONeal is reluctant to anoint Howard as the games, well, next Shaq.
Hes a good player, but everything hes done Ive invented, so Im not impressed, ONeal said. For me to get my eyes wide open about another big man, hell have to do something that I havent seen before or something that I havent invented. Everything that hes done, Ive invented it.
For Garnett, its his 12th All-Star selection—second-most among active players behind ONeals 14 trips. ONeal could see that total increase by one; he could easily be announced as a reserve when coaches balloting to fill out the seven remaining spots on each roster are announced next week.
Its like a good wave, man, Garnett said. If youve surfed the boogie board, you know you ride it til it dies out. And I love boogie boarding. Its all about that good wave and holding on and holding on for dear life. And once its over, you crash and you go out and try to find the next one.
Much like the East, the West voting was a bit predictable.
Stoudemires spot turned out to be the most vulnerable; he nipped San Antonios Bruce Bowen—who isnt even starting for the Spurs right now—in the starters balloting by 68,031 votes.
Plenty of late voting helped shape the West starting five.
The leagues next-to-last voting update, released on Jan. 22, showed Denvers Carmelo Anthony—whos currently sidelined with an injured right hand — ahead of Stoudemire by 10,431 votes, plus Houstons Tracy McGrady leading by a 157,063-vote margin over Paul.
Neither lead held up.
Paul wound up prevailing by nearly a half-million ballots, and Stoudemire took his appeals directly to voters.
Stoudemire launched an Internet campaign—www.vote4Amare.com—and Anthony said Thursday he probably would have given him the spot anyway.
Hes in Phoenix, Anthony, who finished fifth among West forwards behind the starters, Bowen and Houstons Ron Artest, told The Denver Post. Its his All-Star game.
In all, five players (Howard, James, Bryant, Wade and Duncan) all topped Yaos previous record vote mark.
Its always an unbelievable honor, because theres so many great players in this league and so many young guys coming in, when you get named a starter from the fans, Wade said.
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