When everybody in the league thought Allen Iverson was done in 2009, the Memphis Grizzlies did not hesitate to give the former league MVP a chance. That was the narrative at the time, but according to “The Answer,” it wasn’t just about staying in the NBA and keeping his job.
Iverson revealed that he didn’t even have to convince the Grizzlies that he was worthy of a spot on their roster. Instead, A.I. said the Grizzlies understood that he was going to come in fueled by his passion, not something else.
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“Nah [I didn’t have to sell myself]. I talked with them and had a conversation with them about what I wanted for the rest of my career, what I can do for the squad,” Iverson told Yahoo Sports at the time. “But I’m not playing basketball no more to make money or anything like that or fame. I’ve been there and did that.”
“I just want to be happy doing what I love to do,” he continued. “If I felt I had to sell myself or sell out to be somebody that I’m not, then I wouldn’t do it anymore. I’d be playing at the YMCA.”
Iverson wanted to lead the Grizzlies to success
Iverson averaged 27.1 points, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals over 13 NBA seasons up until that moment in his career. In 54 games with the Detroit Pistons, his last team before joining the Grizzlies, Allen logged 17.4 points, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals. His performances also earned him another All-Star appearance that year.
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The Grizzlies were evidently impressed by Iverson’s resume. Moreover, they were also pleased by the spirit and mindset that the four-time NBA scoring champion demonstrated.
Early on, A.I. made it clear that he didn’t come to Memphis just to extend his career and not care about the team’s performance. Instead, Iverson vowed to lead the Grizzlies to unprecedented success.
“I’m not going to be content and happy with [just making the playoffs],” Iverson said ahead of his Grizzlies debut via ESPN. “And I want them to know that. Yeah, we [can] get into the playoffs — God forbid somebody knocks us out — then, yeah, it’ll be a successful season for them, but not for me.”
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“I’m going to let guys know that I’m not here to just go to the playoffs. I believe in these dudes here,” he added. “All I want them to do is trust me and trust that I’ll do everything the right way and lead them to where we need to be.”
Iverson made history with the Grizzlies
Even though Iverson and the Grizzlies shared a common goal, they failed to achieve a mutual understanding about A.I.’s role on the team. Or maybe, only Iverson didn’t get it. The Grizzlies had a dynamic backcourt duo in OJ Mayo and Mike Conley at the time, and they viewed Iverson as a backup guard who could provide consistency in bench scoring. What the Grizzlies didn’t know is that Iverson was allergic to the words “bench” and “backup.”
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For Iverson, there was no way he was going to join a team and be a benchwarmer or a backup for anybody. After playing just three games off the bench, “The Answer” parted ways with the Grizzlies, feeling frustrated and disrespected.
Shortly after his quick stop with the Grizzlies, Iverson was welcomed back by the Philadelphia 76ers. He played the final 25 games of his legendary career with the Sixers and retired from the NBA after the 2009/10 season.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.