Editing Allen Iverson (section)

{{short description|American former basketball player (born 1975)}}
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{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{use American English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Allen Iverson
| image = File:Iverson ReebokClassic (cropped).JPG
| caption = Iverson in 2014
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 165
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|6|7}}
| birth_place = [[Hampton, Virginia]], U.S.
| high_school = [[Bethel High School (Virginia)|Bethel]] (Hampton, Virginia)
| college = [[Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball|Georgetown]] (1994–1996)
| draft_year = 1996
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 1
| draft_team = [[Philadelphia 76ers]]
| career_position = [[Shooting guard]] / [[point guard]]
| career_number = 3, 1
| career_start = 1996
| career_end = 2011
| years1 = {{nbay|1996|start}}–{{nbay|2006|start}}
| team1 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]]
| years2 = {{nbay|2006|start}}–{{nbay|2008|start}}
| team2 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| years3 = {{nbay|2008|full=yes}}
| team3 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| years4 = {{nbay|2009|start}}
| team4 = [[Memphis Grizzlies]]
| years5 = {{nbay|2009|full=yes}}
| team5 = Philadelphia 76ers
| years6 = 2010–2011
| team6 = [[Beşiktaş J.K. (men's basketball)|Beşiktaş]]
| highlights = * [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]] ({{nbay|2000|end}})
* 11× [[List of NBA All-Stars|NBA All-Star]] ([[2000 NBA All-Star Game|2000]]–[[2010 NBA All-Star Game|2010]])
* 2× [[NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|NBA All-Star Game MVP]] ([[2001 NBA All-Star Game|2001]], [[2005 NBA All-Star Game|2005]])
* 3× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA First Team]] ({{nbay|1998|end}}, {{nbay|2000|end}}, {{nbay|2004|end}})
* 3× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA Second Team]] ({{nbay|1999|end}}, {{nbay|2001|end}}, {{nbay|2002|end}})
* [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA Third Team]] ({{nbay|2005|end}})
* [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|NBA Rookie of the Year]] ({{nbay|1996|end}})
* [[NBA All-Rookie First Team]] ({{nbay|1996|end}})
* 4× [[List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders|NBA scoring champion]] ({{nbay|1998|end}}, {{nbay|2000|end}}, {{nbay|2001|end}}, {{nbay|2004|end}})
* 3× [[List of National Basketball Association annual steals leaders|NBA steals leader]] ({{nbay|2000|end}}–{{nbay|2002|end}})
* [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team]]
* No. 3 [[Philadelphia 76ers#Retired numbers|retired by Philadelphia 76ers]]
* Consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] ([[1996 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1996]])
* First-team [[List of All-Big East Conference men's basketball teams|All-Big East]] (1996)
* Second-team All-Big East (1995)
* 2× [[Big East Conference Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year|Big East Defensive Player of the Year]] (1995, 1996)
* [[Big East Conference Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year|Big East Rookie of the Year]] (1995)
* First-team [[Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team|''Parade'' All-American]] (1993)
* [[Virginia Mr. Basketball]] (1993)
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 24,368 (26.7 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 3,394 (3.7 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value = 5,624 (6.2 apg)
| HOF_player = allen-iverson
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport | Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{Medal|Country|the {{USA}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|United States]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[FIBA Americas Championship]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[2003 Tournament of the Americas|2003 San Juan]] | [[2003 Tournament of the Americas|United States]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Summer Universiade]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[1995 Summer Universiade|1995 Fukuoka]] | [[United States national basketball team|United States]]}}
| nbanew = 947
}}
'''Allen Ezail Iverson''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|aɪ|v|ər|s|ən}} {{respell|EYE|vər|sən}}; born June 7, 1975)<ref>[http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/media/media_guide-2009.pdf 2009–10 Memphis Grizzlies media guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109153834/http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/media/media_guide-2009.pdf |date=November 9, 2012 }}, p. 22.</ref> is an American former professional [[basketball]] player. Nicknamed "'''The Answer'''",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-sep-12-la-sp-sn-allen-iverson-the-answer-20120912-story.html|title=Was Allen Iverson once sued over his 'The Answer' nickname?|last=Cronin|first=Brian|date=September 12, 2012|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 23, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=January 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104032903/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/12/sports/la-sp-sn-allen-iverson-the-answer-20120912|url-status=live}}</ref> he played 14 seasons in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) as both a [[shooting guard]] and [[point guard]]. As an NBA rookie with the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] in 1997, Iverson was named [[NBA Rookie of the Year]]. He was an 11-time [[NBA All-Star]], won the [[NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|All-Star Game MVP Award]] in [[2001 NBA All-Star Game|2001]] and [[2005 NBA All-Star Game|2005]], and was the [[NBA Most Valuable Player|NBA's Most Valuable Player]] (MVP) in 2001. He was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2016. In October 2021, he was named to the [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team]]. Iverson is regarded as one of the game's greatest{{under discussion inline|talkpage=WT:NBA#Discussion on allowing "greatest" in the lead of all NBA players}} scorers, ball handlers,  guards, and among the most influential athletes in all of American sports.<ref>Multiple sources:
*{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Gus |url=https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/ranking-the-top-10-pure-scorers-in-nba-history |title=Ranking The Top 10 Pure Scorers In NBA History |publisher=Fadeaway World |date=2020-07-23 |accessdate=2022-05-15 |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603055153/https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/ranking-the-top-10-pure-scorers-in-nba-history |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |url=https://hoopshype.com/lists/20-greatest-shooting-guards-ever-the-hoopshype-list/ |title=20 greatest shooting guards ever: The HoopsHype list |date=September 24, 2021 |publisher=hoopshype.com |access-date=November 21, 2022 |archive-date=November 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107165051/https://hoopshype.com/lists/20-greatest-shooting-guards-ever-the-hoopshype-list/ |url-status=live }}
*{{Cite web|last=Bitar|first=Eddie|title=Ranking The 15 Most Influential Players In NBA History|url=https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/ranking-the-15-most-influential-players-in-nba-history|access-date=August 14, 2021|website=Fadeaway World|date=May 29, 2020|language=en|archive-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814204620/https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/ranking-the-15-most-influential-players-in-nba-history|url-status=live}}
*{{Cite web|last=Stark|first=Charlie|date=June 17, 2021|title=Top 5 most influential NBA players of all time|url=https://www.sportsretriever.com/basketball/top-5-influential-nba-players-time/|access-date=August 14, 2021|website=Sports Retriever|language=en|archive-date=July 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724075938/https://sportsretriever.com/basketball/top-5-influential-nba-players-time/|url-status=live}}
*{{Cite web|last=Lynch|first=Josh|date=February 17, 2021|title=10 most Influential Players in NBA History|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/10-influential-players-nba-history|access-date=August 14, 2021|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en-us|archive-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814204618/https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/10-influential-players-nba-history|url-status=live}}
*{{Cite web|date=March 28, 2018|title=Game Changers: Ranking the 100 most influential NBA players ever|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank22932314/nbarank-game-changers-25-most-influential-basketball-players-ever|access-date=August 14, 2021|website=ESPN.com|language=en|archive-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814204618/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank22932314/nbarank-game-changers-25-most-influential-basketball-players-ever|url-status=live}}
*{{Cite web|last=Tan|first=John|date=November 11, 2019|title=Is Allen Iverson Most Influential Player In NBA History?|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/allen-iverson-most-influential-player-nba-history-2863720|access-date=August 14, 2021|website=International Business Times|archive-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814204619/https://www.ibtimes.com/allen-iverson-most-influential-player-nba-history-2863720|url-status=live}}</ref>

Iverson attended [[Bethel High School (Virginia)|Bethel High School]] in [[Hampton, Virginia]], and was a dual-sport athlete. He earned the [[Associated Press]] High School Player of the Year award in both [[High school football|football]] and basketball, and won the Division 5 [[School classification|AAA]] Virginia state championship in both sports.<ref>{{cite web |author=LYNN BURKE 247-4961 September 24, 2004 |url=http://www.dailypress.com/sports/allen-iverson/dp-top100-iversonsep24,0,4945489.story |title=3. Allen Iverson |publisher=dailypress.com |date=September 24, 2004 |access-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101191050/http://www.dailypress.com/sports/allen-iverson/dp-top100-iversonsep24,0,4945489.story |url-status=dead }}</ref> After high school, Iverson played [[college basketball]] with the [[Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball|Georgetown Hoyas]] for two years, where he set the school record for career scoring average (23.0 [[points per game]]) and won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award both years.<ref name="Allen Iverson">{{cite web |url= http://www.hoyabasketball.com/features/top100/a_iverson.htm |title= Allen Iverson |work= Georgetown Basketball History |date= December 3, 2010 |access-date= November 19, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120214181925/http://www.hoyabasketball.com/features/top100/a_iverson.htm |archive-date= February 14, 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Following two successful years at [[Georgetown University]], Iverson declared eligibility for the [[1996 NBA draft]], and was selected by the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] with the [[List of first overall NBA draft picks|first overall pick]]. He was named the [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|NBA Rookie of the Year]] in the [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97 season]]. A four-time scoring champion, winning the [[List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders|NBA scoring title]] during the [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99]], [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01]], [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02]], and [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–05]] seasons, Iverson was one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, despite his relatively small stature (listed at 6&nbsp;feet, 0&nbsp;inches, or 183&nbsp;centimeters). His regular season career scoring average of 26.7 points per game ranks seventh all-time, and his playoff career scoring average of 29.7 points per game trails only [[Michael Jordan]] and [[Luka Dončić]]. Iverson was also the [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]] of the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01 season]], and led his team to the [[2001 NBA Finals]] the same season. Iverson represented the [[United States men's national basketball team|United States]] at the [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Summer Olympics]], winning the [[bronze medal]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Miseducation of the 2004 US Mens Olympic Basketball Team |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2731575-the-miseducation-of-the-2004-us-mens-olympic-basketball-team |last=Masisonet |first=Eddie |work=[[Bleacher Report]] |date=September 5, 2017 |access-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418150104/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2731575-the-miseducation-of-the-2004-us-mens-olympic-basketball-team |url-status=live }}</ref>

Later in his career, Iverson played for the [[Denver Nuggets]], [[Detroit Pistons]], and the [[Memphis Grizzlies]], before ending his NBA career with the 76ers during the [[2009–10 NBA season|2009–10 season]]. He was rated the fifth-greatest NBA shooting guard of all time by [[ESPN]] in 2008.<ref name="greatestsg">{{cite web|publisher=ESPN|title=Special Dime: Greatest shooting guards of all time|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-GreatestSGs|date=March 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314235836/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-GreatestSGs|archive-date=March 14, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> He finished his career in Turkey with [[Beşiktaş J.K. (men's basketball)|Beşiktaş]] in 2011. He returned as a [[player-coach]] for [[3's Company]] in the inaugural season of the [[BIG3]].