words_Nick Engvall
Stephon Marbury might have pulled some unbelievable stunts in the last few years, but his biggest stunt might be what helps lure some of the league’s aged and ripened elite athletes around the globe to China in the future.
According to the Associated Press, 35-year-old Allen Iverson may be the next NBA star to add his name to the list of players taking their talents overseas to a new, only slightly-tapped fan base. A fan base that is as eager to see NBA superstars playing as we once were here in the States, back when they were young that is.
Marbury became the first (former) star to make the move – unless, of course, you consider Bonzi Wells a star, then I apologize – when he moved to the Chinese Basketball Association earlier this year to play for Shanxi, one of the lowest-ranked teams in the 17-team league. Unlike when he took Youtube and UStream by surprise by devouring Vaseline, singing oh-so angelically and crying like only a grown man can, Marbury made the most of the opportunity to live and play in China. Marbury averaged nearly 23 points per game, 9.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 15 games during the 2009-2010 season. In the process, Marbury scored 30 points to lead the North All-Star team to a victory-grabbing MVP honors for the game, and probably grabbing more new fans than he has left here in the U.S.
The difference between Iverson playing overseas and Marbury playing overseas is night and day, though.
Marbury had a handful of good years as an NBA player, sprinkled with highlight reels that will keep his questionable antics balanced with skills from his past. For Allen Iverson, though, he’s easily one of the top players in the last 20 years, possibly of all time. His scoring ability, which includes four NBA scoring titles, is on par with that of the greatest scorers to ever sport the Jerry West silhouetted NBA logo. On top of that, AI has an NBA MVP Award in his collection, 11 All-Star appearances in which also grabbed two All-Star MVP Awards, and despite career low numbers over the last few years, still holds a career average of over 26 points per game.
What Iverson has that most stars in the NBA have right now is an incredibly dedicated fan base. Despite his troubles on and off the court, and walking away from his last two NBA franchises, the Grizzlies and the 76ers for “personal reasons,” Iverson, if given a deal with an NBA team, would likely take the court to thunderous applause no matter where he were to land.
Iverson is a potential NBA Hall of Fame member, and his decision to play out his last days on court, whether it be a three-game ordeal as it was for the Memphis Grizzlies, or a couple more productive years as one of the fan favorites, finishing his career in China could be detrimental to the legacy of the NBA.
Iverson wants to play in the NBA. Maybe I’m being to sentimental thinking about Iverson crossing up Michael Jordan back in the late ’90s, but I think most fans would still rather see Iverson suit up for a year or two more, possibly get a chance at the NBA Championship that has eluded him over his 14-year career.
Then again, heading to China and becoming the first former NBA Superstar to win a title in a basketball market that will eventually belittle the United States’ market isn’t a bad way to go out either.
Should he stay or should he go? I don’t know.
My money is on Iverson doing what he always does . . . whatever he wants to.
images via yahoo
I grew up watching Iverson – we share the same hometown, so I’ve closely followed his career since a youngin. I’m a big fan, but so disappointed by how his career turned out. No player of his caliber should go out this way – and he has so much of the blame to take for that. His unwillingness to sacrifice some of his game for the bigger picture crippled his chance at rings. Initially, because the team couldn’t build around him because he shared no chemistry with other scorers. And later, because he wouldn’t agree to come off the bench for a contender. He could have given a huge jolt to teams like Orlando, LA, Boston, etc.
On one hand, its commendable that Iverson didn’t want to win a ring without being the undisputed leader of the team. On the other, its disappointing that he hasn’t realized that he doesn’t have to average 30 points and 40 minutes to be a significant piece of a championship puzzle.
I wish him the best. I still think he’s got too much left to be a Chinese sideshow. Though, I understand why teams aren’t gambling.
Well said BRich, it is sad that nothing worked out for AI in terms of C’ship Rings, but as we all know he has no one to blame but himself for that
and even if he goes to China his mind set will not change either, it’s a sort of a new start if he ends up over seas playing, but a fresh start with a old age and banged up body
Good luck to AI, whatever he decides to do
If he doesn’t want to or can’t play in the NBA then I say just retire!!!
Am I crazy to think that he might look for a Chinese sneaker deal? Li-Ning/ Peak/ Anta?
Peak would make the most sense, and I don’t think it’s entirely out of the realm of possibility since Reebok has clearly moved on. AI would have to listen to huge offers.
china is the future.. and the new market for business around the world… it will soon over take every country including united states… so its reasonable that superstars like iverson and youngsters have interest in china…
What BRich said was well put. Iverson deserved more for himself… wish he saw that too
I hope we do get to see AI again. Definitely one of the most fun players to watch, and I wish him the best of luck in China.
Iverson would be a great fit for the New Orleans Hornets!
“Then again, heading to China and becoming the first former NBA Superstar to win a title in a basketball market that will eventually belittle the United States market isn’t a bad way to go out either.”
is belittle really the right word there? maybe dwarf? is the chinese market going really going to be mocking us at some point in the future???
anyway, i REALLY hope he doesn’t have to go the china route…as unlikely as it is, i am still hoping he can get on an nba squad this season…
@Brich “No player of his caliber should go out this way – and he has so much of the blame to take for that. His unwillingness to sacrifice some of his game for the bigger picture crippled his chance at rings. Initially, because the team couldn’t build around him because he shared no chemistry with other scorers. And later, because he wouldn’t agree to come off the bench for a contender.”
i definitely agree, he should not go out this way! while i think most will agree on the latter (which everyone bases on the the detroit fiasco, but has since been proven that it was pretty much was on coach curry NOT ai), i am not so sure of the former, the only real bonafide scorer they had beside ai, early in his career, was stackhouse (who was in his 2nd year and yet to have consistent jumper) they were not entirely incompatible but their games just did not make for winning basketball…larry brown is infamous for his impatience with young players and promptly gutted squad on any and all young talent that might have been able to be successful, and if not for ai being the fan favorite he was he most certainly would have liked to move him as well…
He is a legend and he was a great inspiration of many kids.