By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)
On Friday, Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. We now know who will be tasked with setting the stage for one of the most interesting figures in basketball history.
.@Hoophall confirms Allen Iverson will be presented Friday by:
Larry Brown (class of '02)
Julius Erving ('93)
John Thompson ('99)#AIWeek— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) September 6, 2016
Brown took over as the Sixers head coach for the 1997-98 season, Iverson’s second in the league. Iverson often clashed with the “tough love” aspects of Brown’s coaching early in the partnership, but the relationship grew stronger across their six seasons together. The six-year period prior to Brown’s departure was highlighted by the 2000-01 season when Iverson was named league MVP, and the Sixers reached the NBA Finals before falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
In comments earlier this spring, Iverson gave the following glowing remarks about his former coach, per CSNPhilly.com:
“But if I could have a wish as an athlete? I wish I would have bought in to what [Brown] was trying to give me all along (instead of) just being defiant. Being a certified ass—- for nothing. When all he wanted was the best for me.
And I didn’t take constructive criticism the way I should have. You know what I mean?
“To me, in my eyes, he’s the best coach ever. To me. You know what I mean? And I didn’t take what God was giving me the right way. God sent him to me, and I was defiant at that time.”
Before Brown, Iverson spent two years at Georgetown under John Thompson’s tutelage. In his sophomore season, the Hoyas finished 4th in the country, as Iverson was a consensus All-American sporting averages of 25.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.4 steals per game. His feats on the court were enough to make AI the 1st overall pick in the 1996 draft.
Thompson gave Iverson a chance by accepting him at Georgetown following the high schooler’s incarceration (later pardoned) for the infamous bowling alley fight, with all of the racial tensions that incident magnified in the city of Hampton. In the Showtime documentary “Iverson,” AI was quoted as saying, “Coach Thompson saved my life.”
Unlike the other two presenters, Julius Erving never coached Iverson, nor did their paths cross on the court. However, after playing 11 seasons in Philadelphia, Dr. J. has assumed an ambassador role with the franchise in his post-playing days. With Iverson now having assumed a similar position following his retirement, the two have been bound to spend plenty of time together over the years.
Back in March, Erving remarked on Iverson’s historic career, per the Morning Call:
“He’s in that class of distinction,” Erving said. “I don’t really like to rate guys until they get 10 years in. This man did it for the duration and then some. I’m happy to be in the same fraternity with him.”
Regardless of who it was to serving as a prelude, Friday’s induction ceremony was bound to be a memorable event. Having individuals who shaped both Iverson’s formation as a player and man, alongside with those who helped make the Sixers franchise what it is, only adds an added layer of anticipation to the proceedings.
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