Although Allen Iverson was a sure Top 3 pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, many were surprised that he left college early. At that point, in John Thompson’s 20-plus years of college coaching, superstars like Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning played through their senior year at Georgetown and built a legacy as Hoyas.
But many argued that Iverson was already ready to turn pro that year and that he had Reebok and other corporate sponsors waiting for him on the other side. Both of those were valid reasons, but in a recent social media post, Iverson’s mother, Ann, revealed the real reason why A.I. did not return for his junior season at Georgetown.
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“My daughter, Iiesha Iverson, is special needs, and Bubba (Allen) love her so much as we all do,” the proud mom wrote in all caps on Instagram. “But he entered into the NBA Draft early from (Georgetown) college to keep her alive with all the specialist doctors, he paid for, and I do the rest (nurturing).”
Iiesha needed immediate special medical care
Little is known about Iverson’s sister, Iiesha. Nor did Ann elaborate on her being a special needs individual. But it has been widely reported that Iverson’s little sister has been suffering from seizures since she was born. And Iverson’s super agent, David Falk, once said that in early 1996, Iiesha’s condition started to get worse and the family needed a brain specialist to monitor her closely.
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With Ann struggling to make ends meet, Allen decided to forego his final two years at Georgetown. He entered the 1996 NBA Draft, where he was taken first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. A.I. was a star from Day 1. He won Rookie of the Year honors, became one of the game’s greatest scorers, and was the shortest player to win the NBA’s MVP award in 2001.
Along with success came a lot of money. While The Answer is often criticized for squandering his money on a luxurious lifestyle, partying, and reckless spending on a large entourage, only a few talk about the things he did for the community or even his family. Ann’s IG post reminds everyone how much Iverson loved, and continues to love, his family.
A.I. continues to support his sister
As Mama Iverson mentioned in her post, Iiesha continues to be under medical care. While she is the one who physically takes care of her baby, it’s A.I. who continues to support her medical needs, not because he has no choice but because they have a special bond. When she made her post, Allen had just visited Iiesha.
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“To know [Iiesha] is to love her,” Ann continued. “With her soft spoken voice, when Bubba come home to visit and he first lay eyes on Iiesha, his bottom lip torn down and he tears up….. I leave them alone because Bubba knows the struggle we been through, but God have shown us favor and it’s going to be alright. We are a praying family by faith, and I always tell my children to let go and let God.”
Iverson has bounced back from his bankruptcy. Aside from being hired by Reebok as President of its Basketball operations, he is also expected to receive his $32 million trust fund from the shoe company, which was part of his original deal in 2030. Sure, Iverson could have been a lot richer if he had managed his money. But despite losing all of it, he never forgot to take care of his family, especially his little sister.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.