Allen Iverson Retirement is a Cry for Attention

Allen Iverson is retiring! Really?

There’s lots to say about the little giant called Allen Iverson: four league-scoring titles, his one league-MVP honor, his trip to the NBA Finals and even his career 27.1 points per game average entering this season. He’s definitely a stud but he’s proven once again that he’s self centeredness knows no bounds.

I’ve been the biggest supporter of Iverson over the years and have scratched my head at some decisions and wondered if he really wanted to win, or if he was really a winner at heart.

Iverson’s decision to play in Denver is a very good example. After things fell apart in Philly he was a hot commodity in the League and was offered a chance to play along side Kevin Garnet in Minnesota. There he would have got a chance to play along side a player that does not demand a lot of shots but will hit many big shots for you. This was not just the best fit for Iverson, but he’s chance at a championship.

Iverson as we all know went ahead to play for Denver along side another high scorer in Carmelo Anthony.

Then just this year, passing up on a chance to reuniting with the one man that has proven he can really get the best out of him: Larry Brown in Charlotte because their price tag was $1 million short — this is a guy that just made $20.8 million last season.

Then electing to go to Memphis which as I write this article right now I still don’t understand WHY?

Today he does the ultimate:

“I would like to announce my plans to retire from the NBA,” Iverson said, via a statement Wednesday afternoon. “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.

“I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank. I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level. But stepping away from the game would allow me to spend quality time with my wife and kids. This is a reward that far exceeds anything that I’ve ever achieved on the basketball court.”

Iverson is not going to retire, let’s get that straight. Retirement is clearly reluctant and temporary.

After 14 seasons in the NBA, he has not yet acquired the most important asset needed as a veteran to play on a contender. That would be: Humility.

Iverson by now should have realized that for him to play on a team like the Celtic, Magic, Cavaliers, Mavericks or even the Lakers, he’s going to need to come off the bench, play just about 20 minutes and end up with more accolades than he would have gotten starting on a bad team.

Winners are willing to come off the bench. Winners guard their words and their actions simply to end up in the winner’s circle someday. And long before someone comes knocking on Iverson’s door, willing to provide one last chance at glory for the future Hall of Famer, Iverson needs to show he’s worthy of being given that chance.

For years, better players have done just that and reaped great rewards: Clyde Drexler being a very good example. After years leading the Blazers, he joins the Rockets along side Hakeem Olajuwan and today is called an NBA Champion.

Whether right or wrong, the perception that winning is secondary to other things in Iverson’s world is something many believe Iverson fostered all by himself.

The thing is, hurt shouldn’t be the feeling he’s displaying at this moment in time; Humility would be more apropos.

Iverson’s retirement is clearly reluctant. Is it temporary? (Rocky Widner / Getty Images)

Whether right or wrong, the perception that winning is secondary to other things in Iverson’s world is something many believe Iverson fostered all by himself.

That is why he can’t leave the game yet. And he knows it.

“I’ve still got a whole lot left in the tank,” Iverson said, as defiant as ever about his ability to compete at the highest level.

No one has ever questioned he’s ability to play the game and many in the NBA know he would be a good addition to their franchise.

The question now is: does Iverson wants to be a part of a Franchise or does Iverson want to be the Franchise?

We await The Answer!

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