Ten-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson is ready to retire, according to what is reportedly a farewell letter to fans posted on a sports analyst's website. Allen Iverson played three games this season with the Memphis Grizzlies before taking a leave of absence to attend to "personal matters." He was later waived by the team in a bilateral agreement.
The farewell letter, posted on the site of Stephen A Smith, said that Allen Iverson, one of the all-time greats, still has plenty of basketball left. He said that he was not leaving on his own terms.
I would like to announce my plans to retire from the National Basketball Association. I always thought that when I left the game, it would be because I couldn’t help my team the way that I was accustomed to. However, that is not the case.
I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank. I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level.
Those comments by Allen Iverson sound somewhat angry and resentful. Despite this, the former All-star shooting guard went on to say that the retirement will allow him more time with his wife and children, and he called that a blessing.
Allen Iverson was drafted in the first round in 1996, first overall, in fact, by Philadelphia. He spent most of his career in that city, and completed his career with an average of 27 points per game.
It was clear, however, that his statistics took a downturn after the 07-08 season. In that season, he averaged 41.8 minutes and 26.4 PPG, which was already a drop from the prior year's 31.2 PPG. In the 08 - 09 season, he averaged 36.8 minutes and 17.5 PPG over 53 games.
On April 3, 2009, Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced that Iverson would not play the remainder of the 2008–09 season due to Iverson's ongoing back injury. Two days prior Iverson stated publicly that he'd rather retire than be moved to the bench as Piston's coach Michael Curry had decided.
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
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