Editing Allen Iverson (section)

====MVP season and trip to the NBA Finals (2000–2001)====
During the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01 season]], Iverson led his team to a franchise record 10–0 start to the season, and was named a starter at the [[2001 NBA All-Star Game]], where he won the game MVP. The Sixers posted a 56–26 record on the season, the best in the Eastern Conference, earning the top seed. Iverson also averaged a then-career-high 31.1 points, winning his second NBA scoring title in the process. At the same time, Iverson won the NBA steals title with 2.5 a game. Iverson was named [[NBA Most Valuable Player]]; at 6 feet and 165 pounds, he became the shortest and lightest player to win the MVP award. He had 93 first-place votes out of a possible 124.<ref>CBS Sports. "[http://www.cbssports.com/u/ce/multi/0,1329,3897007_54,00.html Six-foot Iverson smallest player to win MVP award ]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}". ''CBS Sports''. May 15, 2001. Retrieved on December 31, 2008.</ref> He was also named to the All NBA First team for his accomplishments. On top of Iverson's awards, recently acquired big man [[Dikembe Mutombo]] won [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year]], fellow guard [[Aaron McKie]] won [[Sixth Man of the Year]], and Larry Brown won the [[NBA Coach of the Year]], all of which contributed hugely to the Sixers' success that year on top of Iverson. In the playoffs, Iverson and the Sixers defeated the Indiana Pacers in the first round, before meeting [[Vince Carter]]-led [[Toronto Raptors]] in the Eastern Semifinals. The series went the full seven games, though Philadelphia eventually prevailed. In the next round, the Sixers defeated the [[Milwaukee Bucks]], also in seven games, to advance to the [[2001 NBA Finals]] against the defending champion [[Los Angeles Lakers]], featuring the duo of [[Kobe Bryant]] and Shaquille O'Neal.

Iverson led the Sixers to their first finals since their 1983 championship. In game one of the [[2001 NBA Finals]], Iverson scored a playoff-high 48 points and beat the heavily favored Lakers 107–101; it was the Lakers' only playoff loss that year. In the game, he notably stepped over [[Tyronn Lue]] after hitting a crucial shot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/finals2001/recap_phi_lal_010606.html?nav=SiteFragment |title=NBA Finals 2001 |work=NBA.com |access-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504074754/http://www.nba.com/finals2001/recap_phi_lal_010606.html?nav=SiteFragment |archive-date=May 4, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Iverson would go on to score 23, 35, 35, and 37 in games 2–5, all losing efforts though the Sixers were not swept like many predicted. Iverson enjoyed his most successful season as an individual and as a member of the Sixers during the [[2000–01 NBA season]].

Iverson began using a [[basketball sleeve]] during this season during his recovery from [[bursitis]] in his right elbow.<ref>Chris Broussard. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/06/sports/pro-basketball-now-a-leader-iverson-turns-image-around.html Now a Leader, Iverson Turns Image Around] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225170453/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/06/sports/pro-basketball-now-a-leader-iverson-turns-image-around.html |date=February 25, 2015 }}". ''The New York Times''. June 6, 2001. Retrieved on December 31, 2008.</ref> Other players, including [[Carmelo Anthony]] and [[Kobe Bryant]],<ref name=Kotler>Steven Kotler. "[https://archive.today/20080507192227/http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-playing-field/200804/allen-iverson-kobe-bryant-and-basketballs-placebo-effect Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and Basketball's Placebo effect] ". ''Psychology Today''. April 17, 2008. Retrieved on January 8, 2009.</ref> adopted the sleeves as well, as did fans who wore the sleeve as a [[fashion statement]].<ref>Larry Platt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=bdsrzKm6_AEC&pg=PA9 Only the Strong Survive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210114125/https://books.google.com/books?id=bdsrzKm6_AEC&pg=PA9#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=February 10, 2024 }}''. Harper Collins, 2003. 9.</ref> Iverson continued wearing his sleeve long after his elbow had healed.<ref name=Kotler/> Some believed that the sleeve improved Iverson's shooting ability. Steven Kotler of ''[[Psychology Today]]'' suggested that such sleeves may act as a [[placebo]] to prevent future injuries.<ref name=Kotler/>

After the 2001 season came to a close, Allen Iverson decided to partner with Reebok and signed a 10-year $50 million contract. This contract also included $800,000 annually and access to a 32 million dollar trust fund when he turns 55.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://footwearnews.com/shoes/sneaker-news/allen-iverson-reebok-deal-1203524476/ | title=Allen Iverson's Reebok Deal: The Details of His Lifetime Contract | date=October 12, 2023 }}</ref>