Thread: former NBA MVP Allen Iverson retires

Less than week after almost joining New York Knicks, former NBA MVP Allen Iverson, 34, retires

BY Mitch Lawrence
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Wednesday, November 25th 2009, 10:45 PM




Less than a week after the Knicks decided not to sign him, and with no other team interested in his services, Allen Iverson is retiring from the NBA after 14 seasons.
Iverson, 34, broke the news on the Web site of Stephen A. Smith, the former ESPN analyst. But in his announcement, the 10-time All-Star selection left the door open for a potential return this season, while also sending the message that he still views himself as a starting-quality player.
"I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank," Iverson said. "I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level."
In recent days, the Celtics discussed signing Iverson to a free-agent deal. According to VP Danny Ainge, the move would have had to have been unanimous among team officials, including coach Doc Rivers, and was not.
The Celtics were looking at Iverson exclusively as a bench player, the main factor in his leaving the Grizzlies earlier this season. Ainge said he had not contacted Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, to see if the point guard would be willing to come off the bench. Iverson's refusal to accept a reserve role has been his biggest problem in landing with a contender.
If Iverson follows through with his plans to walk away, he will retire with four scoring titles but no championship jewelry. The closest he came to winning a title was in 2001, his one MVP season, when he led the Sixers to the Finals, which they lost to the Lakers in five games.

Read more: Less than week after almost joining New York Knicks, former NBA MVP Allen Iverson, 34, retires

He's always been a me first player and the better teams nowadays don't need that attitude. Since he doesn't appear willing to change, he'd be better off playing overseas if he wants to play anymore.