The partnership between Allen Iverson and Larry Brown during their time with the Philadelphia 76ers was characterized by immense talent, personal struggles, and, ultimately, a pivotal moment that would have altered the course of both of their careers.
Back in 2000, the legendary head coach requested "The Answer" to get traded away because they just couldn't seem to see eye-to-eye. A deal would've materialized if it hadn't been for Sixers center Matt Geiger . Brown and Iverson carried on, and to the coach's surprise, A.I. gradually matured as a player from that point forward.
In a candid admission, Larry confided that had he predicted Allen was capable of evolving into a responsible player over time, he would not have wanted him out of the team.
"If I'd have known Allen would be like he is today, I don't think anybody would've considered moving him," Brown told ESPN . "He's always tried on the basketball court. It's all the other stuff. If I knew that he was gonna be on time, that he was going to come prepared to practice each day, that he was gonna be respectful of his teammates, there'd never have been any (trade) talk."
The Sixers were happy about A.I.'s maturity
Brown and Iverson's reconciliation quickly resulted in positive things for the Sixers . It became the turning point not only in their relationship but also in the team's journey to success.
The following season, Philly finished as the best team in the East, with Iverson winning the league MVP award. The squad also made it all the way to the Finals.
The changes in A.I.'s mentality and approach to the game were very evident. He began to embrace the values Brown instilled, showing a willingness to lead and collaborate with his teammates on the court. However, in typical "The Answer" fashion, the legendary guard didn't think talking and reflecting about it was necessary.
"Off the court, he's still the same Allen," former Sixers point guard Eric Snow said. "But on the court, as far as when things aren't going right, pushing guys, being encouraging, yes."
"He's changed a lot," former Sixers power forward Tyrone Hill said of Iverson. "He don't like us talking about it, but he's changed a lot."
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Iverson's underrated traits
In the NBA lore, Iverson is a name synonymous with scoring as well as rebellion. However, there was more to "The Answer" than meets the eye. For one, A.I. transcended the game in ways that many players could only dream of. He became a cultural icon and, despite not winning an NBA title, was revered by many as the people's champ.
Unfortunately, Allen often found himself misrepresented by the media. With that in mind, his turbulent coexistence with coach Brown still divides NBA fans to this day. Some believe Larry was micromanaging too much, some assume Iverson was just difficult to deal with, and others believe "The Answer" was just misunderstood.
Related: “They were just so relatable” - LeBron James picks Stephen Curry and Allen Iverson as the most influential players since MJ
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