After 13 seasons of being one of the NBA’s biggest names. The smallest dude with biggest game and heart, Allen Iverson announced plans to retire on Wednesday after being waived by the Memphis Grizzles just last week.
With no teams showing interest, the NBA great opted to hang up his sneakers. He released a statement, via former ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith’s website (StephenA.com), explaining.
“I would like to announce my plans to retire from the National Basketball Association,” Iverson said in the statement. “I always thought that when I left the game, it would be because I couldn’t help my team the way that I was accustomed to. However, that is not the case.”
While it seems like an official retirement, A.I. revealed he may not be fully ready, especially since his drive and love for the sport is still there.
“I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank,” the statement continued. “I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level.”
This season, Iverson played just three games with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to deal with personal matters, then was waived by the Grizzlies after he and the team agreed to part ways. It’s said the NBA veteran was unhappy with the reserve role he was given by with Memphis, the same problem he had when he played for Detroit the season before.
While it looked like he may be headed to the New York Knicks, the team opted to pass and focus on the development of them younger, up-and-coming crop of players.
Say it ain’t so A.I.? Please don’t tell me that the NBA forced you out of the league. No matter how you try and spin it, this was definitely not YOUR decision. So please don’t sign those walking papers…quite yet. Give it a little more time. Some team will come asking for your services. They always do. Didn’t the Celtics just gamble on Starbury late last year? And you have 10x as much game as he has, although your shoes are quite pricier.
