Yesterday, Allen Iverson (among others) was elected into the 2016 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class. He was well deserving as he was one of the best pound for pound players of all time.
Allen Iverson was a very controversial player. He didn’t dress up for games, he was tatted up from head to toe, and had plenty of off the court problems. But, as soon as Iverson got on the court you wouldn’t have to worry about his drive. He was the fiercest competitor you would ever meet.
The one knock on Iverson’s actions on the court, specifically during his time in Philly, was his relationship with Larry Brown. AI didn’t have the best relationship with Brown at first because he wanted to be himself. He didn’t want to be restrained and was not willing to let Larry Brown control him.
Allen Iverson went into a little more detail about his relationship with Larry Brown yesterday following the announcement including the one regret he had during his career.
“I love being who I am, I love the person that I am. I feel comfortable in my skin. But if I could have a wish, as an athlete, I wish I would have bought in to what he was trying to give me all along. Just being defiant, being a certified a**hole for nothing — when all he wanted was the best for me.
I didn’t take constructive criticism the way I should have. To me, in my eyes, that’s the best coach ever. To me.
God sent him to me and I was defiant at that time. But obviously you found out once I caught in and caught up to what I was supposed to know, that’s when I became the MVP. That’s when it went from just a talented player to the best player on planet Earth.”
Allen Iverson said that he hadn’t talked to Larry Brown yet about the Hall of Fame induction as he knew that as soon as he heard his voice, he would start crying. That’s what Larry Brown went to Iverson.