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Allen Iverson

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During the 2000-01 season Iverson showed a new sense of maturity. He arrived for practices on time, fulfilled team obligations, and began involving his teammates in the offense. He averaged 31.1 points and 4.6 assists per game. Because his teammates were also getting their shots, thanks to Iverson's decision to pass the ball sometimes rather than shoot every time it touched his hands, the 76ers began to see themselves as a team, a team with a shot at an NBA title. They made it into the 2001 NBA finals, but lost the title bid to the Los Angeles Lakers. Iverson was named the NBA Most Valuable Player. The following year he improved to 31.4 points and 5.5 assists per game, and for the second year in a row and the third time in his career, Iverson won the NBA scoring title.



In August of 2001 Iverson married long-time girlfriend Tawanna Turner, with whom he already had two children, a daughter Tiaura, born during Iverson's days at Georgetown, and a son, Allen II, born three years later. Once again Iverson made the news in July of 2002 when he faced arrest on criminal charges stemming from an altercation with his wife that allegedly resulted in Iverson carrying a handgun on a hunt to track down his wife, who had failed to return after Iverson kicked her out of their house. Charges were eventually dropped.

Iverson has more than proven himself as a basketball player, but how history writes the final chapters of his life in the NBA remains an uncertainty. Some view him a "bad boy" from the ghetto who could never leave trouble behind; others see a basically good person who occasionally makes bad decisions and has been unfairly vilified by the press. Iverson has, certainly, fulfilled his "Plan." He bought his mother a red Corvette, as well as a new house, and financially supports an extended family. Evidence of his ongoing impact on the American culture is Reebok's decision in 2002 to extend Iverson's $50 million, 10-year endorsement contract.

Awards and Accomplishments

1995 Big East Rookie of the Year, Big East Defensive Player of the Year, and Big East All Rookie Team
1996 Big East Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All American, and First Team Big East; selected first overall in the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft by the Philadelphia 76ers
1997 NBA Rookie of the Year and All Rookie First Team
1999 First Team All NBA and led the NBA in scoring with 26.8 points per game (ppg)
2000 Second Team All NBA
2000-02 Selected to the NBA All Star Team
2001 NBA Most Valuable Player and First Team All NBA; NBA leader in scoring with 31.1 ppg
2002 NBA leader in scoring (31.4 ppg), steals (2.80 per game), and minutes played (42.7 per game); named to Second Team All NBA

Additional topics

Famous Sports StarsBasketballAllen Iverson Biography - Tough Beginnings, First Legal Troubles, Rookie Of The Year, Questions About "the Answer" - CONTACT INFORMATION