Allen Iverson wants back in the NBA, but it appears the NBA does not want him. No one has given him so much as a whiff. That’s what happens when an undersized point guard loses some of his skill set and has been labeled not so easy to coach.
And so, Iverson, 37, likely will give it a try in China.
Although his body is not altogether right and the “killer crossover” is not as deadly, he has a name that still resonates in the Far East.
“I definitely want to return to the NBA,” Iverson said via the Chinese website NetEase. “But if I can’t get back there, I’m hoping to play ball here (China).”
He said he would welcome an opportunity with any NBA club.
“I’m not leaning towards any one team, and there’s no ‘first choice’ like what the others say.”
However, Iverson points to the CBA as one of his backup options. “China is still one of my choices, but the team that wants me to join has got to show me that they really mean it, like ‘hey we really need you’,” he said.
Iverson has tried the overseas circuit once, playing in Turkey two years ago. It didn’t end all that well with him leaving early because of an injury. He was rumored to be playing in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and even the D-League.
China is where Stephon Marbury has flourished and found stardom. Why not Iverson?
In May, Iverson said: “I’m not using that word (retirement). I want to play basketball so bad.
“I mean, the way it is right now, I’ve accepted the fact that [playing in the NBA] might not happen. But I still want to play basketball. If I can get an opportunity to where it’s going to make me happy at the end of my career, I’ll take that opportunity. But I just love to play and I want to have another opportunity to play on the professional level.”
