Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson is one of the top players to ever grace a basketball court. The 6-foot guard from Georgetown averaged 26.7 points and 6.2 assists in his 14-year career playing for the Sixers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies establishing himself as one of the best scorers to ever play the game.
Iverson averaged 27.6 points, 6.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 steals during his time with the Sixers while winning the MVP award in 2001 and led the Sixers to the finals in the same season. His performance on the floor earned him the honor of having his No. 3 uniform retired in franchise history.
CBS Sports ranked the top 25 players of the 21st century and Iverson came in ranked No. 20 on the list:
There probably isn’t a more fearless basketball player in the last 25 years than Iverson. Standing at just 6-foot with shoes on, Iverson never was scared to drive into the lane despite the likes of Shaquille O’Neal or Kevin Garnett lurking under the basket. The fact he managed to lead the league in scoring on four separate occasions and win NBA MVP despite his small stature alone makes his place on this list valid. He might not have been the most efficient scorer, but Iverson’s quick first step and athleticism made him difficult to bottle up. He had great balance despite getting knocked around every time he penetrated the lane, and possessed a never-quit attitude that made him someone you’d want on your team. Basketball aside, there arguably isn’t a more impactful player to the culture of basketball than Iverson in the last 25 years.
Iverson will go down as one of the top players to ever play the game as one of the most impactful. The performance he gave on a nightly basis while being so authentically himself will always resonate with anybody who watched him. He deserves a spot on any all-time greats list such as this and one can argue he should be higher.