Iverson is often talked about in a negative manner. His negatives are vastly exaggerated without context, and people who are stat heavy disregard how phenomenal AI was for a 5'11 man 165 lb man hanging in an era of giants with HORRIBLE spacing

This is my thread on Allen Iverson.

Firstly, I wanna speak on AI's cultural influence. AI opened the door for allowing players to dress how they want, act how they want and be how they want. He didn't fall into this suit and tie " marketable " horsesh*t the NBA was trying to push. The man is a pop icon.

The 1996 NBA draft is debated to be the greatest draft class of all time. A class that was filled with all time great talents and HOFers like Nash, Kobe, Ray Allen, and hopeful future undrafted HOFer Ben Wallace.

Allen Iverson went #1 overall.

Allen Iverson showed obvious flashes of superstardom his rookie season. He had obvious all time shot creating traits and super valuable playmaking, but struggled with efficiency like most rookies.

-23.0 IA Pts/75
- 7.0 AI APG
- 8.7 Adj Box Creation
- 5.5 Adj Passer Rating

The 76ers would only post a 22-60 his rookie season though and draft Keith Van Horn in the first round (who they traded to the Nets)

The 76ers would have another bad season the following year and trade guard Jerry Stackhouse for Theo Ratliff and Aaron Mckie midseason.

The 76ers had also hired Larry Brown to be their head coach, signed Derrick Coleman in the offseason and drafted Larry Hughes in the first round.

Both of these players would end up being impactful down the line but in 1998 the 76ers would still only post a record of 31-50. Allen Iverson still posted up great numbers though with 22.8 IA Pts/75 on +1.10 rTS% with 6.1 IA APG and a 8.9 Adj Box Creation

1998-1999 Season was a shortened season due to it being a lockout year, The 76ers would go 28-22 which was good enough for the 6th seed. The 76ers would also beat the 3rd seeded Orlando Magic in the in the 1st round. In Game 3 Iverson also broke the record for steals in PO game.

Iverson and the 76ers would get swept in the second round, but you could see the potential in the squad. Allen Iverson put together a campaign of 28.2 IA Pts/75 on slightly below average efficiency (-0.30 rTS%) with 5 IA APG, a down 7.5 Adj Box Creation and 2.3 STL.

In the 2000 Season Iverson would make his first All Star appearance averaging, 28.7 IA Pts/75 on absolutely horrible although situational efficiency (-2.70 rTS%) 4.7 IA APG, 8 Adj Box Creation and 2.5 STL. The 76ers would win the first round vs the Hornets but lose in the 2nd.

Before I continue i must explain that at this point in Iverson's career he was turned into the engine, the heart and soul, the whole core of the 76ers offensive approach, he would play 40+ every game and made to shoot absurd amounts of shots every game that tanked his efficiency.

The 2000-2001 NBA Season was magical, I do not care what anybody says, I love it. The 76ers would surround Iverson with all time horrible spacing but an ELITE defense and yet again forcing Iverson to absolutely carry the offensive load. The 76ers would be the 1st seed (56-26)

And Allen Iverson would win the 2000-2001 NBA MVP Posting:

31.5 IA Pts/75
4.5 IA APG
2.5 STL
+0.03 rTS%
52.1% Load
9.6 Adj Box Creation
5.6 Adj Passer Rating
25.5 FGA
3.5 BPM

The 76ers also traded Theo Ratliff for Dikembe Mutombo, who ended up winning the 2001 DPOY as well, Aaron Mckie was named 6MOTY and Larry Brown was also named COTY. The 76ers would play the Pacers in the 1st round and win in 3-1.

In the 2nd round they would face the Vince Carter led Toronto Raptors in a series that would go 7 games, in an absolute classic of a series the 76ers would win in 7.

G1 AI 36, VC 35
G2 AI 54, VC 28
G3 AI 23, VC 50
G4 AI 30, VC 25
G5 AI 52, VC 16
G6 AI 20, VC 20

Iverson would meet Ray Allen in yet again another 7 game series where Iverson would come out on top, Iverson would average 30 PPG in this series on pretty horrible efficiency but good enough to Combat Ray Allen's efficient 27 PPG.

Sixers lose in 5 to the lakers yadda yadda yadda fuck you twitter thanks for ruining and missing half of my thread