Allen Iverson departs Memphis...

by shaqfor3 on Nov 7, 2009 7:16 PM PST

According to ESPN:

Allen Iverson was granted permission to leave the Memphis Grizzlies to deal with a personal matter, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported on Saturday.

Iverson had a meeting with Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley Friday night after the team lost 114-98 to the Los Angeles Lakers, the newspaper reported.

Iverson met with Heisley again Saturday morning and then left for Atlanta, the Commercial Appeal reported. Iverson lives in Atlanta during the offseason.

Iverson has played in three games for the Grizzlies since returning from a hamstring injury. He has come off the bench in all three games and made it known he is unhappy about it.

"It's something that I never did in my life, so obviously it's a big adjustment," Iverson said of coming off the bench. Iverson also indicated that he was off to a rocky start with head coach Lionel Hollins over more than just a start position.

"I think that's probably the worst part of all this," Iverson said Friday. "That while all this is going on, we have never talked to each other. That's probably why it's at this point right now. We've just never had a conversation, so it's probably going to always be hard for me and him to see eye-to-eye, because we've never even talked to each other. Obviously that's what you do if you're trying to accomplish the same goal."

Iverson has averaged 12.3 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 turnovers and 57-percent shooting in 22 minutes for the Grizzlies.

Poll

Was Allen Iverson right to complain about his role on the bench?

Yes, he is still a high caliber player and he deserves minutes on a team such as the Grizzlies

28 votes

No, AI needs to accept at some point he will have to go to the bench for the sake of his team

28 votes

56 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Meh, has been player on a team that was destined for the lottery even before the seasons tipoff.

No biggy

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Nov 7, 2009 7:26 PM PST reply actions

um it is a big deal

the guy was has been all star player for years
and all of a sudden he just gives up on a young team…

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by shaqfor3 on Nov 7, 2009 7:34 PM PST up reply actions

im just saying its not going to affect the big picture. The grizzlies werent going to get anywhere close to the playoffs, and iverson at this point in his career, he isnt even on the list of top 5 players teams in the nba want.

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Nov 7, 2009 8:07 PM PST up reply actions

if he stuffed his ego

teams would chase after him

poor guy. some people just can’t take the fall from grace as easily.

by Nostance on Nov 7, 2009 8:55 PM PST up reply actions

“. . .isnt even on the list of top 5 players teams in the nba want”

No team in the NBA wants Iverson. That’s why he was in Memphis.

And yes I am a 2009 World Champion Fan.

by olf on Nov 8, 2009 8:10 AM PST up reply actions

Will he miss practice too?

by figgifig on Nov 7, 2009 10:06 PM PST reply actions

Practice? We talkin’ bout practice?

by intuitive on Nov 7, 2009 11:27 PM PST up reply actions

It's sad

Especially because if you could name a single player to be a game-changer off the bench on a contending team, it would be Iverson. It’s really easy to imagine him abusing reserves on other team for 10-15 points a game (and also minimizing his lackluster D and ball dominating tendencies), but his inability to accept that he simply isn’t the same player he was in Philly and Denver is probably going to keep him from ever seeing this.

See Chad Ford’s comments on this for further reading:

http://espn.go.com/blog/TrueHoop/post/_/id/10438/answers-few-and-far-between-on-allen-iversons-future-in-memphis

Frankly, I agree with quoted GM’s assessment — if he doesn’t change his attitude, he’s basically out of the league after this season. No contending team wants to deal with his demands to start, no rebuilding team wants him to damage the development of their young players, and everyone doesn’t need the headaches.

Seriously though, all this could have been averted if he went to Charlotte. They’re last in the league in offensive efficiency by a huge margin, they have Larry Brown, probably the only coach in the league who could deal with Iverson at this point, and he easily could start in favor of Augustin, who would be an effective sixth man, and paired with Felton, who matches up with two guards nicely, it would be a decent backcourt and give Charlotte a puncher’s chance at making a playoff spot.

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by Ben R on Nov 7, 2009 11:46 PM PST reply actions

Was Charlotte pursuing him?

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by PeanutButterSpread on Nov 8, 2009 3:40 AM PST up reply actions