It’s hard to imagine that Allen Iverson a player that has played in 10 All Star games, won an NBA MVP award, 4 scoring titles, and holds a career average of 27.1 points per game can not get a job with any team in the NBA. Iverson signed a one-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on Sept 9th but was released on November 16th because of personal reasons. After a horrible year in Detroit Iverson was happy to part ways with the Pistons, when the Grizzlies offered him a one year contract he looked at it as a way to make a name for himself in the league only to be given a back up role which he did not want. Memphis coach Lionel Hollins signed Iverson to give his young team more scoring power but when the season started Iverson was on the bench behind Mike Conley Jr who could not start for any other team in the NBA. Going to the Grizzlies Iverson knew that he was headed to a young team in a strong western conference, but he never imagined he would be a back up on one of the worst teams in the NBA. After being in All Star for so long then having to face the fact that he was no longer a starter in the NBA and seeing little time on the court has to be hard for any professional that has accomplished so much. After realizing he would be spending a lot of time on the bench behind a player he could outscore blind folded, Iverson decided to take a leave of absence, which resulted in the Grizzlies and Iverson to part ways. Right after Iverson was about to be released the Grizzlies signed NBA journeyman Jamal Tinsley to fill Iverson’s role as the sixth man, while future point guard Conley continues to struggle in the NBA and make his team worse then they already are. Some sports analysts say coach Hollins only had Iverson on the bench to try and teach him who runs the show in Memphis and help the young players develop for the future. Anyone who watches basketball can tell you that there is no way Conley should’ve ever started over Iverson, he shouldn’t even start over Tinsley, or Jason Williams the Grizzlies third string point guard. For now Iverson will have to sit out and wait to see if any team will take a chance and pick him up. After what just transpired with Memphis, Iverson would have to settle with a back up a role like it or not even though he should be a starter. Iverson made a name for himself by being a scorer that likes to shoot the ball a lot. That was fine when he first came into the league as a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers, but the NBA has involved into more of a team game since then. Until Iverson realizes his days of averaging 29 points a game are done, he will never be an option for any team in the NBA. By: Frank Bilotta
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