Breaking News: Allen Iverson Leaves Grizzlies For Personal Reasons
I am not exactly sure what the personal reason is, but I am trying to find out. It has been a rough go of it for A.I. since joining the Grizzlies.
First he hurt his hamstring, then he complained about coming off the bench and now this. It is a sad end to such a great career. I feel bad for him.
Here is the info on what happened from a NBA Source close to the situation and Memphis Commercial Appeal
Iverson met with Griz owner Michael Heisley Friday night following the team’s 114-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The pair met again this morning, and Iverson was expected to depart for Atlanta this afternoon.
Atlanta is where Iverson lives during the offseason.
This latest development comes after Iverson played in three games since returning from a hamstring injury. Iverson came off the bench in each of those appearances and expressed his displeasure over that role all week.
It is not known when Iverson will rejoin the Grizzlies.
I wonder if A.I. will ever return? I am going to be honest from the day I heard that Iverson was considering playing for the Grizzlies I never thought it would turn out well.
When you have been a star shining as bright as Iverson you just don’t go to one of the worse franchise in the league and everything just works out.
If A.I. had issues coming off the bench in Detroit I don’t know why anyone thought he would be cool coming off the bench in Memphis of all places.
I wish him well, but like I said before it is a sad end to a wonderful career.
*UPDATE*
Early reports are just the Iverson just took his ball and went home which if that is the care I ask why did he even sign with the Grizzlies in the first place. He would have been better off just retiring as oppose to just damaging his reputation even more by quitting on the team because he couldn’t handle coming off the bench, but I am still digging.
*UPDATE PART 2*
After talking to several sources, here is the situation. Iverson was under the impression once he was fully healthy he was going to start and be the leader of the team. Iverson believed he got those assurances when he signed with the Grizz or he would have never signed with the team.
After sitting on the bench for the majority of his first three games back from injury he wasn’t happy with the “perceived broken promises”.
When the owner backed the coach in his decision to keep A.I. on the bench, Iverson decided enough was enough and bounced.
So I have confirmed this isn’t a medical or family issue, but simply a situation where he did not want to be on the team if he was coming off the bench so he took his ball and went home.
Also sources are saying you will probably never see Iverson in a Grizzlies uniform again, but he has no plans to retire.
If I get any more details I can share I will.
I knew he would not be out here to long!!!! SMDH
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He signed with the Grizzlies because no other team wanted him. Other teams didn't want to deal with the drama that is Allen Iverson. He should have just retired.
It is quite possible this is the last time we see Allen Iverson
Yes, I think it's a done deal for him. How unfortunate for him to end his career this way.
after speaking to some people he isn't going to retire, but he is not going to play for grizz
Elizabeth, hi, by the way. I've never been able to like AI's all-round big-HERO stuff. He's first, last and always, so full of himself. He can't keep his own greatness off his mind. And, like you pointed out, It's too bad, really.
If only he would've mimicked M. Jordan's easy greatness and unassuming smile. True greatness is like that, (dontcha think?) It seems so easy.
Btw, I still remember and love Michael Jordan's smile. Somehow, it reminded me that "God's still in his heaven and every-thing's okay."
At any rate, the heroic Allen Iverson's gone from professional roundball for good; 'good-bye and good riddance.'
I think the 76ers should take him back. He still has alot of fans and the 76ers could use the fan base to boost up their team spirit. The coashes just need to take AI for who he is and work with him. The Answer.
Wrong, wrong, wrong… it is the Player who is supposed to do what the Coach says.
Iverson is NOT the Answer, he's a Cancer. He's a spoiled ball hog who throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He should NOT be encouraged by having coaches "take AI for who he is and work with him."
He never should have been rewarded with a contract with the Grizzlies this year after he pulled the same crap in Detroit last year.
You can say whatever you want about AI, but the truth is he was the best little man to ever play the game of basketball on this level. He brought so much energy and passion to the NBA, and its ashame that people can't respect that. AI was promised the role of leadership because of his veteranship, however after he signed with the team they pull some bullshit like that! I bet you would be jaded too if a team just flat out lied to you. Say what you want but AI is a super star no matter if you care to admitt it or not, who didn't deserve to go out the way he did…………………….." i'm out"
Sixers does not need that drama llama!!
If A.I comes back to Sixers hes just gonna be back on the bench, and we don't need him we have Lou.
There is just way to much drama with Allen. He doesn't wanna practice, he doesn't like drills, he doesn't wanna sit on the bench, its like you can't win with this guy. Besides his game isn't as good as it used to be when he was with the Sixers(maybe its because he doesn't like to practice) Personally I think he either gets his act together or retire because no one is going to put up with his B.S anymore.
Let’s see: Denver got much better after they traded him for Chauncy while Detroit tanked. How does he still think he’s a great player?
Good point, probably one of the best moves that made in their franchise. In the words of PTI, Happy Trails A.I.
He is now the "Cooler"
He is still a great player but the coaches have doubt on his game. Why they never give AI a chance to show it and prove to AI haters that he can still play..
What's the "cooler"???
A cooler is someone that the Vegas casinos send to the tables to stop someone on a good run. it is based off a movie.
Now that's just funny.
Denver Nuggets did not get better after trading Allen Iverson. Get that straight. Sure, they advanced to the semi-finals, but they faced "DIFFERENT" teams in the playoff with Billups. Also, Denver Nuggets only won like 4 to 5 games more in the regular season with Billups. How does that prove improvement?
You don't have a clue if you really think Denver didn't get better by trading Iverson for Billups.
Billups is a professional; Iverson's just a cry baby ballhog who should have been let go from the NBA years ago.
People can say what they want about AI but what he brought to the NBA is undeniable. He was a awesome baller in his prime. I don't blame AI they promised him the role of veteran leadership, however once he signed on the dotted line they switched things up. I have a feeling we will never see AI in a uniform again. However AI thank you for all the great memories and your hard work and dedication that you brought to the game. I feel like the league treated him grimmy which is a damn shame when you consider how much he brought to the league. If AI can't start in Memphis of all places then maybe it is time for him to walk away from the game. I just wish people would have given him the props he really deserved…… I hate to see a super star go out like that………………………..
Eric, you can't talk basketball with me. A ballhog doesn't make assists, and Iverson was in the top 10 in assits, averaged 7 APG… Allen Iversin did not cause Detriot's disaster, Curry ( the Coach) did — even Richard Hamilton confirmed that… And Curry was an inexperience -rookie Coach. If you continue to talk about stuff you have no clue of, you are just gonna make people shake their head at you. Wonna talk NBA? Get your facts straight. Billups went to the finals with who? Larry Brown! After Larry Brown left the team, how many rings did Billups get? None. How many times has Billups been to the finals after Larry Brown left? Never. Billups is a professional? Yeah, so is Allen Iverson, so what is your point? Just so you know, Allen Iverson will kill Billups one-on-one any given day, and if Billups is a better player than Allen Iverson, why is his reputation so poor compared to Iverson's? Melo is who carrying the Nuggets, not Billups. Let Melo get ingured and you see what happen to that team.
And before you use the word ballhog, learn its definition.
Iverson has the ball in his hands all the time.Sure,he gets lots of assists,but that's because he always has the ball in his hands.He could have been such a great leader with his skills but he rather keeps his scoring average high and cares only about his own stats.That's why teams with him go nowhere.And Iverson did take part of Detroit's disaster. He makes such a drama about coming off the bench that's unbelievable.Curry's inexperience couldn't handle that mess.
Now to Billups.He is one of the best leaders in the NBA.Denver DID got better because of him.When was Iverson a leader in Denver?He just enjoyed scoring high numbers and cooperating with Anthony.The rest of the team didn't get much. Billups tries to involve everybody on the court,is a much better defender and leader.So how can you choose scoring averages over leadership?Even Kobe has realized that.
You are truly an idiot by saying Iverson will kill Billups one-on-one,because basketball is more than about breaking ankles and crossovers.It's a team game.Fans get crazy about Iverson because he is the best small player in the NBA and completely ignore the fact that Defense and Leadership take part in this game of basketball,hence why Billups is so underrated.He is truly an unknown MVP.
Richie, I can talk basketball w/you (and Allen Iverson was/is/and will forever be) a "BALLHOG." A selfish ballhog of biblical proportions.
No "insider" ever liked Allen Iverson, nobody on any team he ever played for. No player could stand the disgusting ass. Moreover, he was totally uncoachable. He always knew better than his coachs.
Injured.
Quoted "Iverson has the ball in his hands all the time.Sure,he gets lots of assists,but that's because he always has the ball in his hand"
n
What are you smoking? Allen Iverson was given the PG ( Point Guard) position in Denver and Detroit, so yeah he had the ball in his hands most of the time because that's a PG's job, not because he was selfish and demanded that ball for himself.
Allen Iverson is a scorer, not a rebounder, a genuine PG, etc. But he is definitely a leader; he was who took insufficient 76ers to the finals for Christ sake!!! And you don't use a player to do something else that he isn't capable of doing. He use a player that he is best at doing.
Leadership? Billups wouldn't shoot the ball as often as Allen Iverson because Billups isn't as confident as Allen Iverson in his shooting. So he rather to pass the ball and let others shoot. That isn't leadership. That is just how Billups is; he rather to pass than to score. Allen Iverson rather to score than to pass. If Billups was on a team that doesn't have good scorers, who would he pass the ball to? And how far would that team go? When comparing Billups to Iverson, you don't look at one side, you look at both. They are two different players that do two different things. Billups is surrounded with scorers, so he gets his job done by passing the ball all day. Allen Iverson needs to be surrounded with defenders so his job can be accomplished, BECAUSE HE IS A SCORER.
Allen Iverson plays defense, you heard me? Steals are a part of defesce, so get that straight in your head, you heard me? And you don't expect a 6 feet tall guy to block shots, though he blocked shots many times in his career, just not very often. He enjoys scoring because that is the gift ( skill) he was given. And Billups enjoys passing, because that was the gift he was given.
The problem with Allen Iverson is that he hasn't been in the right group of players. He isn't used properly.
You don't know Basketball, so I am just gonna leave you chat your mouth full of crap.
Iverson did complain about having the ball not as much as he wanted to in Detroit.
Iverson NEVER was a PG,he is a pure SG with passing abilities who wants to shoot.When he was in the 76ers,the team was like Iverson + 4 Rebounders.
And don't tell me that Billups isn't confident at shooting.He isn't as fast as Iverson so he can't crossover to create more space,but he can shoot the ball.They don't call him Mr.Big Shot for nothing.He already said he likes to pass the first half and in the second one he scores.He also averages 17 pts per game.That's more than enough.A PG that just passes is good for nothing.
You are right,Iverson is a scorer,but he demands the ball too much for a scorer and his playing time. It's like a team having only one player with little support.That isn't basketball is used to be played.
And I'm fully aware that Iverson likes to steal and that he doesn't need to block shots,but Iverson need to guard his man better you can see that he has problems guarding pick and roll.
And the fact that he now complains about coming off the bench and doesn't care that he might slow the developement of the younger guys is just selfish.He has been spoiled all the time in his career.He should be lucky that there is a team that even bothers to sign him,and now he just leaves them for personal reason.That's not a hall-of-famer's attitude.
BTW,Insulting people doesn't make your arguments better.
Keep the comments clean. You can debate please don't personal. thanks
honestly I didn't think AI would be happy here in Memphis—-look I lived in Philadelphia area when AI was there and now live in Memphis—-and this "country" place just is not a match for most professional athletes….there is no way they will be happy living here….(not if they have lived somewhere else while in the pros)——-it's just not a fun place—granted some of the people are nice and they mean well….but it is quite the adjustment—and then attending a Grizzlies game is quite boring—so hey I knew AI wouldn't stay—wish I could have talked to him before he signed and saved him the effort……really surprised OJ Mayo is staying—but figuring it's just a "place to get his feet wet" so to speak and as soon as anyone offers him some money he'll be gone—–
Allen Iverson has been on the wrong team his entire career. If he was around some descent players he would have several rings by now. Truth be told regarding this memphis fiasco, he needs to get the hell out, he should play for Boston
Hey if boston took rasheed why not take iverson
Rasheed accepts role player positions and actually plays defense. That's why.
Because they have three strong guards with scoring power. ALLEN, PIERCE, RONDO
Chungi, who insulted anyone here but you? Quoted "You are truly an idiot by saying Iverson will kill Billups one-on-one,because basketball is more than about breaking ankles and crossovers"
I didn't call you an idiot, you called me one. And it is my opinion that you are talking crap. How is saying one is talking crap an insult? You corrected yourself without realizing it. Insulting people doesn't make your arguments better.
Spencer Osei, indeed he has been. He went to Detroit when Ben Wallace and Larry Brown left the team. Ben Wallace was the most effective-defensive player when he used to play for Pistons. That was what Allen Iverson needed. Curry, a rookie Coach, had no clue as to what he was doing. And to prove my point, they got knocked out of the playoffs without Allen Iverson playing. So Allen wasn't their problem.
In Denver, Nuggets faced Spurs, and the Spurs went on to win the NBA title.
06-07' season:
Lost to the Spurs in first round 4-1.
Spurs won the title.
It's not like Spurs eliminated Nuggets and then got kicked out of the Playoffs, They WON the title, meaning no other team ( not only Allen Iverson) could stop them.
Allen Iverson returned to the playoffs:
07-08'
Lost to the Lakers in first round 4-0
Lakers lost the NBA finals to Celtics Boston.
This means no other team in the WEST could stop Lakers from going to the Finals, not just only Allen Iverson. And Lakers lost to All-Star Garnett, Ray Allen, and Pierce, and poor Allen Iverson didn't have a healthy Nene that year.
With Billups, Nuggets got lucky:
08-09'
Defeated New Orleans ( a weak team compared to Spurs and Lakers, 4-1, first round
Defeated Dallas, 4-1,( another weak team compared to Lakers and Spurs, conference semifinals
Lost to LA Lakers, 4-2, conference finals, and Lakers won the title.
So what is the problem here? Billups has not proven no leadership or improvement over Allen Iverson. None.
Bro, sorry to say but you write a lot of things but I don't think it has a use. Are you crazy? Everything you say make no sense.
In the 06-07 season,Nuggets went to the 6th with a 45 – 37 record and lost against the 3rd ranked Spurs in the first round with 4 – 1
In the 07-08 season,Nuggets went to the 8th with a 50 – 32 record in a competitive west conference and lost against the 1st ranked Lakers with 4 – 0
In the 08-09 season,Nuggets went to the 2nd with a 54 – 28 record again in a competitive west conference and won against New Orleans,Dallas.Afterwards lost against Lakers 4 – 2.
And it is natural that you play against weaker teams in the first and secound rounds when you are 2nd ranked.They also avoided a blow-out against Lakers and actually gave them problems.
You just repeated what I said above, so there is nothing for me to say aside from that ( one again) Billups has not proven nothing over Allen Iverson. Avoid a blow out V.S. lost the series is the same result. One cannot get to the next round with either, so your point still doesn't make any sense.
They are now talking about Allen Iverson should come off the bench, but why should he be placed on the bench and Conley gets to be a starter? Show some respect to Allen Iverson for heaven sake. Allen Iverson has earned his starting opportunity. Take a look at his career for example. What if Phil Jackson benches Kobe Bryant and uses Sasha Vujacic as a starter, how do you think Kobe would feel? And don't bother with telling me that Kobe Bryant is a leader and not a ballhog like Allen Iverson is. I won't buy that from anyone. Sorry.
Allen Iverson should NOT return to Grizzles because the Coach for the Memphis Grizzles team wants to see Allen Iverson's career comes to an end. The coach sees that his team is not winning, yet still won't give Allen Iverson the starting job, as if Allen Iverson is the worse degraded player on that team… And according to what I heard, the coach doesn't like Allen Iverson personally.
If they wonna play games with Allen Iverson, he is gonna play the game they want to play. And that is what he is doing now.
Allen Iverson won't retire. He'll be given a better team. Do not listen to source that no one wants Allen Iverson. You just don't know what goes behind there.
well that aint gonna hapeen cause kobe is waaaaaaaaay better than iverson ever was and kobe has rings homie
I'll pick Billups over Iverson any day…I used tobe a fan of Iverson when I was a teenager but as I grew up and learned more about the game it became obvious that the Billups' types of players win titles and the Iverson's types of players are mostly all show with bad shot selection, low shoot percentage and frustrated teammates…
Unfortunately There was a disturbing article on Iverson gambling addiction. He look like hes going down that antoine walker demise.
David Stern finally got his wish ..This was plan to sabotage Ai's career ..The NBA is sick of the off the court late night strip club and gambling stories …They been slow walking AI for the last two years and he failed to see it because he was to business entertaining***************************** CRU THIK************************** and a bunch of other nobodies ..I am soo mad that he has to go out like this ..It burns badly …He gave my city(Philly) Memories OF A LIFE TIME …damn damn damn AI ., All you had to do is listen and stay clean for "them" ..damn damn
if iverson truely wanted to win he would be on a contending team right now and not the grizz… i always looked at iverson as a selfish player (makes kobe look like magic johnson) and he proved my point yet again by not going with the team concept. when he was in detroit he said over and over agin "ill retire before i come off the bench" now ask yourself?? whould you want a guy like that on your team? i wouldnt he think he is the team that he is truely THE ANSWER when in fact he has been a THEQUESTION MARK all his career. Sure chauncy didn't do any better then A.I. when they traded him but he was a star who thought team first and got them believing in the WCF. It is sad to see A.I. go like this but oh well he brought it upon himself
[...] When I first broke this story a couple of weeks ago (AI Leaves Grizz For Personal Reasons) I told you this was the last you would see Allen Iverson in a Memphis Grizzlies uniform and now it [...]
im tired of ppl talking crap about A.I sure he was kind of a ball hog but with a team like that {76ers} i would be 2 so cut the guy some slack he deserves to be a starter no one doesnt even give him a chance anymore so sad to see a player with that potential go down like that no one has loyalty anymore
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