HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Eddie Johnson

I remember two plays in general that convinced me my body was not equipped to play any more.

I was with the Houston Rockets and we were playing the Mavericks. Charles Barkley threw me a cross court pass and my brain said, “Move forward and jump.” The problem was that when the message got to my legs, a Maverick had jumped in front of me and was headed the other way. We called a timeout and as I was walking to the bench, Charles was laughing and I said my legs would not move. It was the weirdest feeling I had ever had in my basketball life.

The second thing was when I noticed I had no brakes anymore. The basket support was my breaks and it became laughable every time I was driving to the basket. One time I missed the support and ran halfway to the locker room before I could stop.

I still was productive despite my problems, but I knew the time was near and when the Rockets acquired Scottie Pippen and put me on the injured list during the lockout season. I knew my time was over. I had the toughest and most difficult time dealing with the fact it was over, but I took solace in knowing that I exhausted every ounce of my basketball energy.

I knew, despite teams inquiring, that I was done. I retired at the ripe old age of 40.

Allen Iverson, you are not done. You have so much more to show us. Stop listening to the people who probably have you in this frame of mind today.

You know, the ones who sat around all day waiting for you to come home while you were at practice working your rear off.

You know, the ones who relied on you to make sure all their bills were paid and gifts flowing in their direction.

You know, the ones who walked behind you and thought they were you and demanded respect from people like you received.

You know, the ones who told you constantly it was always your teammates and the coach’s fault when negative reactions were directed at you.

You know, the ones who probably weren’t too happy you got married and started to raise a family, because it took your attention away from them.

I am just guessing here, but just watching you over the course of your career you have always remained loyal to your past. I applaud you for the gesture and commitment, but it’s time to put yourself first and listen to your conscience and not anyone else’s.

Just watching you over the last 13 years and the way you threw your body around, playing hurt, averaging 41 minutes a game for your career… You proved to me and anyone who watched you that Allen Iverson is the toughest player pound for pound in the history of the game.

That commitment is unbreakable. Allen, you are married to this game. You can’t just walk away because you can’t make the adjustment. You have been married a number of years. Adjustments is what you do when you love someone and something.

Why can’t you mentor young players while still helping a team get to the playoffs or win a championship?

Why are you fighting against helping and teaching the very players who purchased your shoes and grew up wanting to be Allen Iverson?

Why are you walking away from a game that made Allen Iverson a cult figure so soon because you are expected to make a change?

We loved your game because you fought, scratched and clawed your way into becoming a first ballot Hall of Famer. So why go away without showing younger players that you can make a change and still help teams win?

Michael Jordan showed me a lot when he didn’t care about perception. He knew he would struggle playing with the Washington Wizards. He played because he loved the game and he felt that he had more to give. He is not even remembered for those few years with the Wizards and is still considered the greatest basketball player ever.

Allen, we are not dumb. We know your numbers and production will go down because you will have to make adjustments. What we would like to see you do is playing for a contender.

Allen, don’t you realize you could tip the scales for a number of potential championship teams this season by becoming their sixth man.

The Celtics, Magic, Cavaliers, Hawks, Suns, Lakers, Spurs could all use you in the right capacity.

Allen, here is my advice… Take a month off and go talk to a number of great players like Karl Malone, Barkley, John Stockton and Patrick Ewing and ask them what they would do to win a championship and what would they do in your shoes?

You have time to change your decision and this time look in the mirror and do what is right for Allen Iverson.

I say you will come back. You are The Answer and we will be waiting.

Share:

The New York Knickerbockers are playing with fire and it might continue to burn past 2010 if plans to renovate fail next summer. I give them credit for not signing Allen Iverson, but I sense they in turn will face the same fate when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire stay at home or land somewhere else next season.

They backed off Iverson for one simple reason: Mike D’Antoni did his homework by calling around to former coaches and that sealed the deal for a player that has failed to realize what is happening to him is not personal. It’s a message that his time at the top of the food chain is over. He is not first in line anymore. Although being the fourth, fifth of sixth option can still pay the bills, he would rather be sitting at home than play backup to a young player. Why did he think Jerry Stackhouse fought him tooth and nail his rookie year when Iverson took over 1,500 shots? This NBA is a young man’s game and when the Association feels like it’s time to move you to the backseat, you have two choices – put your seat belt on and let someone else learn to drive or get out.

I give the Knicks credit for understanding Iverson would not be the answer, but the same stubbornness Iverson exerts can best describe the organization and head coach Mike D’Antoni.

The Knicks are riding into the summer of 2010 with the belief that James, Wade, Bosh or Stoudemire will join the Knicks.

Why? Let’s see.

New York is the Mecca of basketball, New York is a endorsement extravaganza, New York’s nightlife is second to none, New Yorkers understand the game better than most, if you win in New York you are held in high regard throughout the basketball universe, etcetera, etcetera.

Those assumptions are correct if you win a title, but what New Yorkers must come to realize is that the draw of yesteryear is not here anymore. The Knicks got extremely close during the years of Patrick Ewing and since he left it has been a downward spiral. The idea of signing on as the savior and quite possibility facing the negative aspect of playing for the Knicks will scare any superstar – including LeBron.

These superstars also realize they will not win alone and that sucking up most of the salary cap will lock up the ability to put the right pieces around them. The Knicks, in their exuberance to cut costs, will probably lose the major talent they have in David Lee, thus leaving a star with a roster of question marks.

Why would LeBron or Wade want to leave an environment where the fans understand their minor shortcomings and where they have teammates who know how to give them the space they need to perform?
The only reason would be personal, but the scary scenario for the Knicks is that these two targets are as unselfish as they come and already have endorsements that will last a lifetime.

Bosh and Stoudemire are big-time possibilities, but they already play in an up-tempo system. Bosh is having a career season with arguably one of the top 5 point guards in Jose Calderon. Amare is playing with Steve Nash, who is the reason we talk about 7 Seconds or Less.

The Knicks have dug a serious hole in terms of perception. The only way out would be to change the type of basketball they play and prove to James and Wade that they have solid players to surround them in a system conducive to their abilities.

Maybe there would be a chance, but that depends on the Knicks other stubborn problem.

Mike D’Antoni is a very good coach, but his stubbornness in sticking with a system that is weak without Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Deron Williams or (oops!) Brandon Jennings will lead to failure. He needs to change and he has yet to give in to the thought. He has to recognize that LeBron and Wade like to lope and then explode. They don’t play fast constantly and they would struggle playing with guys who jack up three-point shots with 20 seconds on the shot clock. They like to facilitate and control the action and not being allowed to do so would cause major problems.

D’Antoni has a piece in Eddy Curry that could allow him to prove he can integrate a controlled offense.

Even the Phoenix Suns, who are back to the run-and-gun style, are only winning because they are not trying to run for the full 48 minutes. They are incorporating a good half-court offense, rebounding and focusing more on defense.

The Knicks will probably win less than 20 games this season and that is why D’Antoni should start showing that he can indeed become a more versatile coach. He has to realize that LeBron and Wade understand you will not win a championship if defense is not a focal point. He has to give them a glimpse of who they might be possibly playing with. Again, the thought of frustrated New York fans will strike fear in any great player.

I believe James and Wade will stay where they are and Bosh will become the Knicks’ main target. I love the growth and abilities of Bosh, but who wants to sign with a team knowing Knick fans will be irate and despondent over not adding James and Wade?

Donnie Walsh is one the most respected general managers ever, but I would really hate to be in his shoes next summer.

Share: