There’s a lot that can be said when it comes to the career of the great Allen Iverson.
The diminutive Philadelphia 76ers icon was not only one of the most gifted scorers to ever set foot on an NBA floor, but he was, and still is, one of the most influential players in league history, as claimed by many of his peers.
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To be called someone’s favorite player is special, but to be called the best teammate by another Hall of Famer is otherworldly. That’s exactly the praise that 15-year NBA veteran and Hall of Famer Chris Webber has for Iverson, and that’s saying a lot considering Webber has played alongside some of the best in NBA history.
Praise from a peer
“I love him, he’s the best player I’ve ever played on a team with,” Webber shared on an episode of The Mark Jackson Show. “I played with him late in my career, and we were both battling injuries…I watched him get 60 so easy. He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen.”
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“He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen. He could have easily been in a dunk contest and maybe won it. He could scratch his knees from just standing up cuz his arms are so long.”
Webber also touched on Iverson’s toughness.
“He played so hard, man. He played so hard every night. I watched him get banged up, get beat up. He played with the hockey pads on…’cause he knew he was gonna get banged up. He doesn’t get the credit on the court or off the court that he deserves,” Webber added.
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C-Webb’s regret with AI
Webber had the opportunity to team up with Iverson during the 2004-05 season, when the five-time All-Star was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Sixers. While Webber did put up decent numbers alongside Iverson, even averaging 20 points per game during the 2005-06 season, it was clear that he was on the decline and had become a shell of his former Sacramento self.
Webber himself addressed this, saying that he wished he could have been in better health when he got to team with his fellow Hall of Famer.
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“I wish I could have got there with a good knee,” Webber said in an interview with Shams Charania that came out in 2021. “Out of all the players that played with him, I averaged the most points. It made me feel good and it pissed me off because I think I could’ve given him seven or eight more points. It was an honor to play with him.”
Iverson and Webber played 99 total games together, with a record of 47-52. In those games together, Iverson averaged 32.6 points and 7.8 assists per game, while Webber averaged 18.2 points and 9.4 boards. Had these two linked up during their primes, they would be contending for a championship every year.
At his peak, Iverson was the most electrifying player in the league. He’s a one-time MVP, an 11-time All-Star, a four-time scoring champion, among the NBA’s 75 greatest players, and is a deserved Hall of Famer. He also led the Sixers to multiple postseason appearances, including a trip to the Finals in 2001.
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A.I. averaged over 30 points per game for four seasons, and averaged over 22 points for 12 years straight. In fact, during his 14-year NBA career, he never averaged fewer than 12 points, which is an incredible feat, especially considering he was an undersized guard. Simply put, Iverson was a hooper, and arguably the best pound-for-pound athlete the NBA has ever seen.
Iverson’s style of play revolutionized the game for generations of hoopers, and his swagger on and off the court is a big reason why some of today’s biggest stars look up to him. Simply put, the man known as “The Answer” was a revolutionary, and today, he’s widely regarded as an icon. But A.I.’s game went way beyond just style and influence.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.