Editing Allen Iverson (section)

====Disappointment and frustration (2003–2006)====
[[File:Allen Iverson free throw.jpg|thumb|Iverson shoots a free throw against the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] in November 2005]]
[[Randy Ayers]] became the next coach of the 76ers, but failed to develop any chemistry with his players, and was fired following a 21–31 start to the season. During the latter part of the [[2003–04 NBA season]], Iverson bristled under the disciplinarian approach of the Sixers' interim head coach [[Chris Ford]]. This led to a number of contentious incidents, including Iverson being suspended for missing practice, fined for failing to notify Ford that he would not attend a game because he was sick, and refusing to play in a game because he felt "insulted" that Ford wanted Iverson to come off the bench as he worked his way back from an injury.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2004-03-15-notes-iverson-insulted_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Iverson 'insulted' by decision to have him come off bench | date=March 15, 2004 | access-date=April 23, 2010 | archive-date=May 24, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524082921/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2004-03-15-notes-iverson-insulted_x.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> Iverson missed a then-career-high 34 games in a disastrous season that saw the Sixers miss the postseason for the first time since 1998.

The [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–2005 season]] saw Iverson and the Sixers bounce back under the tutelage of new head coach [[Jim O'Brien (basketball, born 1952)|Jim O'Brien]], and additions of their first round draft pick [[Andre Iguodala]], and All-Star forward [[Chris Webber]], who was acquired in a mid-season trade.

On February 12, 2005, Iverson scored a career-high 60 points on 24-for-27 shooting from the free throw line to go along with 6 assists and 5 steals in a 112–99 win over the Orlando Magic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200502120PHI.html|title=Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers Box Score, February 12, 2005|publisher=Basketball-Reference|access-date=January 9, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307232906/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200502120PHI.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 8, 2005, Iverson recorded 23 points, 7 rebounds and a career-high 16 assists in a 103–98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200504080PHI.html|title=Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers Box Score, April 8, 2005|publisher=Basketball-Reference|access-date=January 9, 2020|archive-date=February 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204002935/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200504080PHI.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

A rejuvenated Iverson won his fourth NBA scoring title with 31 points and averaged 8 assists for the year, and helped the 76ers climb back into the postseason with a 43–39 record.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2005.html |title=2004–05 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019135952/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2005.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They would go on to lose to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons, who were led by [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]], in the first round. In the series, Iverson had three double-doubles, including a 37-point, 15-assist performance in Philadelphia's lone win of the series.

Despite O'Brien helping the team back into the postseason, disagreements with players and management led to his firing after just one season. He was replaced by Sixers' legend [[Maurice Cheeks]], in a personnel move Iverson praised, as Cheeks had been an assistant coach with the team when they reached the NBA Finals in 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/basketball/2030ap_bkn_ers_iverson.html |title=O'Brien fired }} {{Dead link|date=January 2012|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> During the [[2005–06 NBA season|2005–2006 season]], Iverson averaged a career-high 33.0 points per game. The Sixers, however, missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.

On April 18, 2006, Iverson and [[Chris Webber]] arrived late to the Sixers' fan appreciation night and home game finale. Players were expected to report 90 minutes before game time, but both Iverson and Webber arrived around tipoff. Coach Maurice Cheeks notified the media that neither would be playing, and general manager [[Billy King (basketball)|Billy King]] announced that Iverson and Webber would be fined.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060419/COLUMNISTS14/604190348/1063|date=April 19, 2006|access-date=August 20, 2014|title=Now's time to get rid of A.I., Webber|first1=Kevin|last1=Roberts|website=courierpostonline.com|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> During the 2006 off-season, trade rumors had Iverson going to Denver, Atlanta, or Boston. None of the deals were completed. Iverson had made it clear that he would like to stay a Sixer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2006/06/26/sixers_iverson_to_celtics_its_all_just_talk/ |work=The Boston Globe |title=Sixers' Iverson to Celtics? It's all just talk |date=June 26, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629143523/http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2006/06/26/sixers_iverson_to_celtics_its_all_just_talk/ |archive-date=June 29, 2006 }}</ref>

Iverson and the Sixers began the 2006–07 NBA season at 3–0 before stumbling out to a 5–10 record through 15 games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/iversal01/gamelog/2007/ |title=Allen Iverson 2006–07 Game Log |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019135729/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/iversal01/gamelog/2007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the disappointing start, Iverson reportedly demanded a trade from the Sixers (which he denied).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2704221 |title=In first interview since trade, Iverson tells his story |publisher=ESPN |date=December 22, 2006 |access-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112161410/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2704221 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, Iverson was told he would not play in any more games. During the following game against the [[Washington Wizards]], which was televised nationally on [[ESPN]], Sixers Chairman [[Ed Snider]] confirmed the trade rumors by stating "We're going to trade him. At a certain point, you have to come to grips with the fact that it's not working. He wants out and we're ready to accommodate him."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2691152 |title=Trade talks heat up as Iverson sits two games |publisher=ESPN |date=December 9, 2006 |access-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111055613/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2691152 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Iverson ended his 10-year Philadelphia tenure with the highest scoring average in team history (28.1), and is second all-time on the points list (19,583), and the Sixers did not win another playoff series after his departure until [[2012 NBA Playoffs|2012]].