Iverson and basketball have a symbiotic relationship. Iverson is who he is because of basketball, and the game is better because Iverson played it.
The game has giveth money, fame and fortune to Iverson. “My face will bring in checks,” he said. “My legend brings in checks.”
But the game has also taketh.
The 42-year-old father of five plodded his way to the interview room, with an ice pack in tow due to a recent knee injury, after just 11 minutes of halfcourt action.
“I’m not Allen Iverson at 25 any more,” he said. “I’m 42 years old and been away from the game for six, seven years, so for you to think that you’re coming to see a game for Allen Iverson being ‘The Answer’ for real, for real, it’s not going to happen.”
His name was nearly added to the Big3’s list of casualties, which includes Jason Williams, Kenyon Martin and Corey Maggette, who were lost during Week 1. While fighting through a screen Sunday, Iverson suffered a knee-to-knee blow that drew a collective gasp from the fans in the arena. He checked out of the game during the next stoppage in play and later commented how he couldn’t stand up too quickly after sitting down.
“Hopefully this knee don’t linger on because of my old-ass age,” he said.