In a game all of a sudden full of fashion icons and players not afraid to express themselves through the way they dress, the NBA has Allen Iverson to thank for it. While Iverson was one of the most dangerous players to ever grace the court, it was off it where he became a true icon.
From cornrows to tattoos to arm sleeves and even jewelry, Iverson was the trailblazer who made all of these fashion statements popular. When Iverson played, there was a pretty strict dress code enforced by the NBA but being the renegade he is, the Georgetown product paved his own way. Now after reflecting on the way he chose to dress in a recent interview with Nice Kicks, Iverson says he was bothered by the dress code and felt victimized or picked on as a result:
I was bothered by it, because I felt like they were targeting people that dressed like me. All of the young guys in my generation were starting to feel like, “Well damn, you know, he dress like how he want, and he alright. We been wanting to dress like how we want, but we just felt like we couldn’t.” I think it should be a dress code now. They made a big deal when I was doing it, but some of the stuff these dudes are wearing? [laughs] Come on man. They were picking on me, obviously, if they let these guys wear what they wear now.
What Iverson had to say about the dress code is all accurate. He was crucified for daring to be different in a league that had operated in a similar way off the court for decades. The Answer entered the NBA and changed all of that quick.
Nowadays, there are more players covered in tattoos than not and every team has at least a couple players rocking shooting sleeves, all of this made possible by the mark Allen Iverson left. Stars such as Russell Westbrook and James Harden even put together some of the most extravagant outfits the fashion world has ever seen on a consistent basis.
Iverson, though, says he has absolutely no regrets about the choices he made and is glad he could serve as a pioneer for these guys today to portray themselves how they wish:
I took a beating for it, but the sweet part about it is, now you look around the NBA, and all sports in general, and you see [tattoos]. They felt that it was cool, as far as the athletes. I felt proud that I started something, and people can open up and be themselves. That’s what sports is. Everybody can’t be the same. That’s why fans love certain people and different guys in sports. They have their own originality. If everybody was the same, you would like every player and everything. Wouldn’t no player stand out. It was bittersweet, and I’m happy I took the beating for it.
The backlash and criticism Allen Iverson received during his playing career for carrying himself the way he did was endless. While AI will be remembered as one of the most terrifying scorers to ever lace them up, the work he did as a trailblazer when it came to clothing and starting fashion trends could be his biggest impact.
