Allen Iverson 48pts vs Kobe Shaq Lakers 2001 NBA Finals Game 1 - pennyccw

History books can lie. There are always less than desirable facts about the history of our country that historians and politicians alike remember, but would rather much not have them live on more than in the memories of those who lived through them. This applies in sports also, enter Allen Iverson. Approximately ten years ago today, Allen Iverson was on top of the sports world. The tatted up, baggy clothed wearing, quick as a hiccup problem child was the National Basketball Association's Most Valuable Player. After leading the league in scoring and his team to the NBA Finals which boasted the NBA's 6th man (Aaron McKie), Defensive Player of the Year (Dikembe Mutombo), and Coach of the year, (Larry Brown), Iverson was the people's champion.

With a team this strong, he was going up against a dominant Lakers squad led by the legendary duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal; who had just reeled off 11 straight wins in the playoffs and 19 straight wins overall. The odds weren't exactly stacked against him, but the most diminutive and dominating NBA player in history went on to put on the most incredible Game 1 performance in history.

For as dominating as Iverson was, he was given an unceremonious exit from the NBA. At the still effective age of 35, he should be ring chasing with a top contender right now. But after Iverson's unwillingness to come off the bench until it was too late, the aging superstar had run out of believers. Due to his unwillingness to conform in the way he played, dressed, or acted; Iverson might be erased from the annals of history and he might not ever be given his proper place in history. However, we can remember this day in time where Jewelz from Bad News scored a huge right hook over this decade's greatest dynasty.

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[Allen Iverson]

No practice required

[MambaGawd]

The term "put the team on my back" gets thrown around so much, but this is the definition of it. There will never be another A.I.

[playingmusiconmars]

Damn, I never realized how quick Allen is

[serenadesilhout]

This Sixers team was probably the worst team to make an NBA Finals that i've ever seen in recent memory. I honestly think that this team would be competing with the Bobcats for the lottery

[jose roldan]

increible allen

[DboiDeo]

Look each player from the cavs stats tgen tge sixers stat tgen u will see what I mean

[HipHopHead5611]

This team wasn't that bad, people act like they sucked but they had the defensive play of the year, the coach of the year, & the 6th man of the year. This team was nowhere near as bad as the 07 cavs lebron took to the finals

[DboiDeo]

@Michael Jordan matumbo was overrated as well no way in he'll was anybody defending shaq at that time Philly 2nd best scorer was arron mckey lol let's be serrious

[ZACKSTACK1204]

If you don't count rings AI is one of the greatest of all time Kobe had a squad of a lifetime AI had a team worse then lebron had and still won a game and gave the Lakers their only lost of that postseason

[lilprincekilla]

toche, no comment. However, shaq can say what he want, Iverson was never better than Kobe