Iverson and Sixers to reunite????

[Reno Paul]

Updated: November 30, 2009, 7:35 PM ET
76ers meet with Iverson


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By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
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DALLAS -- The prospect of a reunion between franchise icon Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers became more tangible Monday when Iverson and his representatives met for two hours in Dallas with Sixers coach Eddie Jordan and general manager Ed Stefanski.
The face-to-face meeting with Iverson, agent Leon Rose and Iverson's longtime business manager, Gary Moore, took place hours before the Sixers' game Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks.

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"This afternoon, we met with free agent Allen Iverson in Dallas for the first formal discussion regarding a possible return to the Philadelphia 76ers," Stefanski said in a statement. "The meeting ... covered a variety of topics, all of which we would prefer to keep between the team and Allen.
"At this time, both parties remain non-committal regarding a final decision and we will continue to discuss internally whether or not to pursue this course. We want to thank Allen, Leon and Gary for taking the time to meet with us today."
Sixers assistant general manager Tony DiLeo and assistant coach Aaron McKie -- one of Iverson's favorite former teammates -- were also present at the sitdown, which was considered a must if the Sixers decide to go ahead with bringing the franchise icon back in the wake of Lou Williams' broken jaw.
But no firm decision on signing Iverson has been reached and none was expected before the game Monday night, according to sources close to the situation.
According to a report on longtime Philadelphia columnist Stephen A. Smith's Web site, Tuesday is also when Iverson is scheduled to meet with his former Georgetown coach, John Thompson. Thompson responded to Iverson's retirement announcement Wednesday by telling ESPN Radio 980 in Washington, D.C., that he intended to try to talk Iverson out of retirement.
The 6-foot Iverson played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways.
The New York Knicks considered signing Iverson after he cleared waivers, before deciding he would take too much playing time from younger players they are trying to develop.
Iverson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft, played 10-plus seasons with the 76ers. He was traded to Denver in December 2006, and was then dealt to Detroit early last season.
The 34-year-old Iverson, who has never won an NBA championship, wouldn't be returning to a winner in Philadelphia. The Sixers have lost six straight games and are 13th in the Eastern Conference under first-year coach Eddie Jordan.
Williams' injury has paved the way for rookie Jrue Holiday, the 17th pick in the draft, to start.
Iverson had a bitter parting with the Sixers in 2006, making this a truly surprising reconciliation. But both parties are in various states of desperation. The Sixers need a guard on the roster and an electrifying personality such as Iverson to jolt sagging ticket sales. Iverson wants to prove he's not finished yet and can still play at his All-Star level.
Ed Snider, chairman of Comcast-Spectacor, which owns the 76ers and Flyers, is leaving the decision up to Stefanski.
"While nothing has been decided ... I support him and his basketball decisions," he said Monday.
Snider declared "we're going to trade him" 11 days before the Sixers sent Iverson to Denver in 2006. His approval was considered necessary for Iverson and the Sixers to reunite. But it appears he'll let Stefanski make the final call.
Iverson led the Sixers to the NBA Finals in 2001. The Sixers have not won a playoff series since 2003.
Marc Stein covers the NBA for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Old-Timer]

Amazing.. Like marrying the same woman twice. The problems that caused the breakup in the first place haven't gone away. Lots of luck. You think he'll go to practice?

[Dirty]

They are crazy

[Reno Paul]

Iverson returns to Sixers; Monday debut expected

Dec. 2, 2009 CBSSports.com wire reports

PHILADELPHIA -- Allen Iverson's first stint with the Philadelphia 76ers ended with the team yanking his nameplate off his locker and editing him out of video highlights before he was even traded.
The Sixers might want to find him a new locker and cue up some clips.
Philly fans, pull out that No. 3 jersey from the closet. A.I. is a Sixer again.

In a move that appeared farfetched after their acrimonious split in 2006, the 76ers reunited with the briefly retired Iverson on Wednesday in a move designed to spike sagging attendance and fill a void created by Lou Williams' injury.
Coach Eddie Jordan said Iverson will likely start and stay the entire season.
"I told him I would like for him to start, and that's where it sort of ended," Jordan said. "And he was really like a kid at Christmas."
Iverson will make his debut Monday night at home against Denver, one of three teams he's called home since leaving Philly. The 10-time All-Star-turned-journeyman is determined to prove he still has something to offer in that No. 3 jersey.
He antagonized his coaches and opponents his first time around. Perhaps humbled, he signed after being reduced to a bench player in Denver and Memphis and forced to accept the veteran's minimum salary to return to his NBA roots.
"If there's going to be a chance for him to do it and make it work, there's no doubt in my mind Philadelphia is the best spot for him to try and do it," team president Ed Stefanski said.
Stefanski took a low risk financially to sign Iverson, but possibly derailed the long-term improvement of a slumping team tying to build around a core of young players. Rookie Jrue Holiday, who started at point guard for Williams, heads to the bench, and Jordan's Princeton offense could hit the scrap heap.
The Iverson-to-Philly talks were under way once Williams was lost for eight weeks with a broken jaw. Stefanski said he never would have considered a second act for Iverson had it not been for the injury.

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BergerSphere This was a bad idea, clearly driven by business interests, not basketball sense. I made that clear. But ... More

Iverson's reps asked Stefanski about a possible comeback last week. Iverson, his agent and business manager met with Stefanski and Jordan on Monday to jump-start contract talks.
Iverson was offered a one-year, non-guaranteed contract Tuesday, according to a person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the talks were private. Iverson accepted the deal early Wednesday.
The Sixers would owe just under $650,000 if they guarantee his contract for the remainder of the season on Jan. 10.
"The whole situation wasn't about the contract and the money," Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, told the Associated Press. "It was about the opportunity and the chance to come to Philadelphia."
The Sixers (5-13) had lost seven straight entering Wednesday night's game at Oklahoma City. The losing and lack of a marquee name have them buried in 29th in the NBA in attendance.
Sixers management insisted Iverson's signing was strictly a basketball move and not to necessarily boost the gate.
It had the city buzzing. Fans flooded sports radio stations to talk Iverson, TV stations cut in with live updates, and Internet message board posters were roused with his addition.
Jordan, speaking at Wednesday morning's shootaround, was thrilled to have Iverson.
"Without really seeing him on the floor, I would like to compare him to Brett Favre, a guy who people think is too old to play and he's almost having an MVP year," Jordan said. "That's off the top of my head. When I woke up this morning, I said, 'Maybe he can be that.' It's not a big maybe. I think he can be that."
Except for a brief flirtation with the New York Knicks, no other organization was seriously interested in signing Iverson.
Iverson, nicknamed "The Answer," regularly played 40 minutes when he was NBA MVP in 2001 and led the Sixers to the Finals. Philadelphia hasn't won a playoff series since 2003.
In 10 seasons with the Sixers, Iverson posted the highest scoring average in team history (28.1), was second on the points list (19,583) and holds the record for 3-pointers (877). He was a seven-time All-Star for Philadelphia, won four scoring titles and two All-Star Game MVPs.
Iverson's last game with Philadelphia was Dec. 6, 2006, in Chicago. He refused to play the fourth quarter, had a severe falling out with former coach Maurice Cheeks and was banished from the team. Chairman Ed Snider and former GM Billy King sent Iverson home while they worked on trading their superstar.
He was eventually sent to Denver as part of the Andre Miller deal, and bounced to Detroit before landing in Memphis.
"We had, at times, a rocky road with Allen Iverson, but we also had a fantastic run with Allen," Peter Luukko, COO of Comcast-Spectacor, which owns the 76ers and Flyers, told the AP. "The expectations with Allen have changed dramatically. We're not looking for Allen to individually lead this team the way he has in the past."
The 6-foot Iverson played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways.
Iverson will get a look at another former team after playing Denver. The Sixers play at home Dec. 9 against Detroit.
Sixers leading scorer Andre Iguodala, a former Iverson teammate, said he gave management the OK to make the move.
"That was pretty easy," he said. "I think all the guys on our team, whether they've played with him or not, realize what he can do. He can play."
Iverson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft, but his 10 turbulent seasons in Philadelphia were marred by rants about practice, run-ins with former coach Larry Brown, arrests and a failed rap career.
In one infamous blowup at the end of the 2002 season, he repeated the word "practice" nearly 20 times during a rambling monologue.
"Times change, situations change," Luukko said. "The best way was to make this a basketball decision. Don't get personal with it."
Iverson has a career average of 27 points in 889 games over 14 seasons, and is tied for the fifth-highest scoring average in NBA history. He ranks third among active players.
"It's a great challenge, and I think it's a motivational aspect to it, too," Jordan said. "Guys are going to be jacked up. He's a winner, he's an assassin on the floor and that sort of thing is contagious."