Allen Iverson is known for many things. He was the pioneer of a fashion and cultural revolution in the NBA. He was one of the greatest little players in NBA history. And of course, he was the face behind the infamous “practice” rant.
But perhaps nothing in Iverson’s legacy is more pronounced than his passion for basketball. That extended to his relationships with his teammates and coaches.
AI is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday. Despite being late to the press conferences on Thursday, Iverson found some time to speak to reporters. Most notable during that media availability was Iverson responding to a question about his teammates:
[T]hat’s the only thing that got me here is my teammates and my coaches. That’s the only reason I’m here. All those guys sacrificed their games and sacrificed different things for me to be honored like this.”
(h/t Aaron Mansfield of Complex Sports for the transcript)
Iverson is one of the best success stories in the NBA. A diminutive point guard whose efficiency was marred by his size, AI still carved out a great legacy in the league. Whatever your opinion is of his standing in the all-time great ranks, there’s no question that Allen Iverson is one of the most influential players in NBA history. It’s good to see him get rewarded by the HOF but even better to see him praise the people that helped him get there.
