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Allen Iverson, one of basketball's most polarizing figures, is both admired and criticized. Born Allen Ezail Iverson in Hampton, Virginia, he was raised in poverty by his struggling mother after his father abandoned the family. Athletic from a young age, Iverson played both football and basketball throughout his school years before focusing on basketball at his mother's urging, despite his initial desire to pursue football.
He began his high school basketball career at Bethel High School in Newport News, where he developed a reputation for being outspoken and difficult to coach. Iverson’s childhood was extremely challenging; at one residence, he had to walk through knee-deep sewage daily, and during one summer, he witnessed the deaths of nearly ten close friends.
Iverson first caught national attention in 1993 following a controversial incident at a Newport News bowling alley involving a confrontation with white students. The details remain unclear, but questions arose about who initiated the conflict and whether Iverson assaulted a white woman by striking her with a chair. Although the prosecution claimed surveillance footage proved Iverson’s guilt, the tapes were inconclusive. At his hearing, two white witnesses testified against him, and the conservative judge showed little sympathy for Iverson or his background. Iverson’s choice of a bench trial proved detrimental, and his flying in from a tournament for the trial was seen as disrespectful. He was sentenced to five years in jail.
The case drew nationwide attention, attracting support from figures like Bill Cosby and Spike Lee, who became long-time advocates. A local movement to free Iverson gained momentum, and after four months in jail, he was pardoned by Governor Douglas Wilder. This pardon ended Wilder’s political career and sparked further controversy, as many white Virginians viewed the pardon through a racial lens, seeing Iverson as a convicted felon freed by a black governor.
Iverson’s release came with conditions: he had to follow a curfew, could not play basketball until earning his high school diploma, and was barred from accepting a scholarship to the University of Kentucky. Eventually, he earned a scholarship at a learning center and acquired the nickname "The Answer," given by friends who saw him as a challenge to basketball’s traditional, family-friendly image embodied by players like Charles Barkley, Isiah Thomas, and Michael Jordan, Iverson’s childhood hero.
He accepted a scholarship to Georgetown University, where coach John Thompson became a father figure. Their relationship was often turbulent, and Iverson left after two years to enter the 1996 NBA draft, where he was selected first overall by the struggling Philadelphia 76ers.
Iverson’s embrace of hip-hop culture made him a controversial figure in basketball. His style, including arm sleeves and cornrows—a hairstyle associated with prison culture at the time—set him apart from more traditional players. His bold, aggressive demeanor clashed with veterans like Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen, who criticized his respect for the game. Despite this, Iverson’s talent was undeniable: he was quick, could evade taller players, and became famous for his crossover dribble.
Spike Lee’s respect for Iverson waned after Iverson declined a role in the film He Got Game (1998), which Lee then gave to Iverson’s collegiate rival Ray Allen. Meanwhile, the Sixers improved under new coach Larry Brown, a former ABA player who clashed with Iverson over his lack of practice attendance. Iverson believed his success came from inspiration rather than practice, leading to a strained but workable relationship with Brown.
Iverson earned numerous accolades during his career, including Rookie of the Year in 1997, multiple All-NBA First Team selections, NBA All-Star appearances, an All-Star MVP, and the NBA MVP award in 2001. That year, he led the Sixers to the NBA Finals, where they lost in five games to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s Lakers—a significant accomplishment, as the Sixers had not reached the finals since their 1983 championship victory.
Iverson has over 20 tattoos, each representing important aspects of his life, such as his childhood friends' group Cru Thik, his nickname "The Answer," and a tribute to his mother, a prominent presence at Sixers games. He married his high school sweetheart, Tawanna Turner, and they have two children.
