Image via Complex Original
Allen Iverson was to the 2000s what Michael Jordan was to the '90s. He's the reason why all your favorite ballers have tattoos or have had cornrows at some point. David Stern hated him and A.I. knew it. In fact, he took every opportunity he had to go against the league. He suggested the NBA's dress code was racist and said practice really wasn't all that important. Through it all, Allen always played his heart out.
On Saturday, March 1, the Philadelphia 76ers will honor everything A.I. did for the city of Brotherly Love when the organization retires his No. 3 jersey during halftime of their game against the Washington Wizards at the Wells Fargo Center. To commemorate the momentous occasion, let's take a look back at the diminutive guard's incredible career. From the embarrassing ankle-breakers to his epic "Practice?!" rant, here are Allen Iverson's 15 Most Badass Moments.
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15. Says "FOH" to the NBA Dress Code
Date: 2005
"They're targeting guys who dress like me—guys who dress hip-hop. Put a murderer in a suit, and he's still a murderer. It sends a bad message to kids." That's what A.I. had to say about the dress code once the NBA announced it. Iverson was single-handedly responsible for ushering in the era of tattoos and cornrows. He still dresses like he did 10 years ago and refuses to change for anybody. And that's why we love him. We might like to go back to the days of chains and white tees instead of this, though.
14. Sons The Glove
Date: 1/5/2001
Gary Payton is one of the best defensive players in history and he couldn't guard A.I. if his life depended on it—during this game at least. Granted GP was 32 in this clip, but Iverson manhandled him almost every possession dropping 41 on the God. Have a seat, old man.
13. Dunks All Over UConn
Date: 2/19/1996
Lucky for the defender in this clip, we can't tell exactly who A.I. dunked on, but the sonning still shines through despite the poor video quality. Allen Iverson went coast-to-coast and ended it with the wicked finish. The Hoyas won this regular season matchup 77-65 but Ray Allen and the Huskies would have the last laugh when they beat Georgetown 75-74 in the Big East championship game.
12. Gets Into It With The Worm
Date: 12/21/1996
A.I. was a tough little dude. Not even the likes of "The Worm" was able to intimidate him. When Philly played the Bulls in November during the Chicago's home opener, Allen was popping shit and the Sixers got waxed 115-86, which led to this Rodman quote: "They need to stay in school and understand the game of basketball. I see some of these rookies and they can't even talk. They think their money does the talking. It's more than that." So, Iverson made it his business to go at Dennis during their second matchup. A.I. was fearless in his day.
11. Camby, Tell Me How My Nuts Taste!
Date: 4/19/1998
Marcus Camby was no slouch, folks, but A.I. treated him like one in this clip. The announcer already knew what was about to transpire when Iverson took flight. This ill jam made another list of ours.
10. Performance at the 2001 All-Star Game
Date: 2/11/2001
Along with Stephon Marbury, A.I. led the rag-tag East All-Stars to a furious comeback. The East trailed the stacked West squad 90-71 in the fourth quarter then Iverson and Starbury went ape. A.I. scored 15 points during the last nine minutes with Steph hitting two dagger threes at the end. Iverson finished with 25 points, five assists and four steals earning him his first of two All-Star MVPs.
9. Breaks Antonio Daniels' Ankles
Date: 3/3/2006
Antonio Daniels shouldn't have been allowed to wear an NBA uniform after that crossover. How was he even able to walk after that? Dude was never really the same after this. Soundtrack, please!
8. Drops 60 on Orlando
Date: 2/12/2005
In this game Allen Iverson absolutely went off against a young Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, scoring a career-high 60 points on 47 percent shooting. He also added six assists and five steals. Allen is the only Sixer besides Wilt Chamberlain to reach 60 points in a game. He had already dropped 50 or better in consecutive games earlier in the season. In 2005, AI led the L in scoring and was fifth in assists. There's a spot for this dude on someone's 2013-14 roster. There has to be.
7. Scores 52 Points Against the Raptors in the Playoffs
Date: 5/16/2001
On the night of his MVP presentation, Iverson dropped 52 on Vince Carter's Toronto Raptors to take a 3-2 lead in the series. He took 32 shots and only missed 11, adding seven assists and four steals. And this was after Charles Oakley said A.I. wouldn't score 50 again in the series following Iverson's 54-point performance in Game 2. He joined Michael Jordan as the only two players to score 50 twice in a playoff series. Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain are the only other players to score 50 more than once in the playoffs. The God is a first ballot Hall of Famer and if it doesn't happen, plenty of douchey Philly bars will be burned to the ground.
6. Sets a Playoff Record for Steals
Date: 5/13/1999
Say what you want about The Answer, but when the lights came on, he never took a play off. The Orlando Magic had 20 turnovers at the half and Darrell Armstrongwas responsible for nine of them. A.I. set a playoff record for steals (10) and the 76ers won the series in four games but ended up getting swept by the Pacers in the second round.
5. Wins Four Scoring Titles
Date: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005
Allen Iverson is the shortest player (listed at 6-foot which means he's probably 5-foot-10) to ever win a scoring title and he won it four times! He's sixth on the all-time scoring champions list behind the likes of Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan; in that order. #onlyinthecompanyofkings
4. Wins the 2001 MVP Award
Date: 2000-2001 Season
Out of all the things people said about Allen Iverson, no one could take his 2001 MVP award away. He put up 31 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.6 APG and 2.5 SPG, which were cartoonish for a man that stood barely six feet. In fact, Iverson is actually the shortest player to ever win the MVP. With the help of Larry Brown, A.I. led the Sixers to a 56-26 record and to the Finals where they lost in five games to an overpowering Lakers squad that featured Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant in their primes.
3. The Crossover on MJ
Date: 3/12/1997
Even the GOAT can get got. The making of the jumper really pulled this thing together. Around this time, Iverson and Mike had a little beef brewing stemming from a 1996 game in which Jordan stepped to him. When a reporter asked Mike what he said to him, MJ stated, "He told me he doesn't have to respect anybody. I told him he's going to have to respect us, if no one else." Mike got the last laugh in '97; winning his fifth ring.
2. Sons Tyronn Lue and Beasts in Game 1 of the Finals
Date: 6/6/2001
The Philadelphia 76ers came into the series as huge underdogs, but you couldn't tell Iverson and his boys that. The Sixers stunned the Lakers and the rest of the basketball world with a 107-101 OT victory; stealing Game 1 in L.A. Iverson dropped 48 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals. The highlight of the game (and series for Philly) came when A.I. hit a jumper in the corner with Tyronn Lue all over him. That right there was the dagger and the way A.I. looked down at Tyronn when he stepped over him was priceless.
1. Practice?
Date: 5/7/2001
That's what we in here talkin' about? This is the greatest interview in the history of modern athletics. Iverson always played hurt and Larry Brown always rode his players. It was quite amazing watching their marriage prosper for so long with all the bickering they used to do. Good enough for the O.G. Complex soundboard and good enough for the top spot on this list.
