AI Struggling With His Role, Hints at Retirement

So while I wasn’t ready to assess the Iverson Sixth Man Experiment, the man himself is. The Pistons are 1-2 since AI’s return, and this situation just isn’t working for the biggest little man to ever play the game:↵↵⇥“I’m having a hard time doing it now,” he said after his team’s 111-98 loss to the New Jersey Nets. “You think I will try to do it all over again? No way. I wouldn’t do that to myself or the team that I am playing for. I don’t think I can give everything I have to give in that situation.” [...]↵⇥
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↵⇥“I’m happy with my career and the things I’ve done in my career,” Iverson said. “I feel blessed that I’ve had the opportunity to accomplish the things that I’ve accomplished, to do the things that I’ve done. I would feel fine if I had to (retire).”↵↵

Wow, that’s decisive. And a little sad, too, since it seems more defeated than defiant to me. Iverson’s not knocking bench players; at one point, he states that “I take my hat off to guys who come off the bench and get it done the way they do. It’s just tough for me.” It’s more like he’s realized who he is, what he does, and his limitations as a player. Iverson needs the ball in his hands a lot, needs to start, and will take a lot of shots. I don’t think his confidence is decreased or anything, and while you might think he’s being spoiled and unrealistic, I’d say he’s being ultra-realistic. Iverson needs to do Iverson, or else he might as well not play.↵
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↵And that’s why I see nothing but pathos in this kind of quote: “I want to be out there on the basketball court, but if (retiring) is something that I have to do, then so be it.” And here’s the irony of Iverson: Someone needs to just sign him and let dude play, even if it means, in effect, giving up on a championship for a couple years. ↵↵All of which supposes that there are so many teams out there who couldn’t afford this kind of Veeck-ish stunt, since they’re all this close to the Finals every year. To take it a step further, there’s probably some near-lottery East team with personnel that could accommodate Iverson. Maybe they provide the fans with some thrills and at least have a few memorable seasons. Not winning rings, but a lot of fun. And a way to keep one of the NBA’s most vital careers going till it’s extinguished for the right reasons.↵

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