Allen Iverson is one of the most recognizable NBA players of the 2000’s, with his iconic cornrows and streetwear style. His accomplishments as a basketball player were incredible, winning the MVP, 4x scoring champion, and Rookie of the Year over all time greats like Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, and Steve Nash. Iverson is not only an athlete, but his impact on culture is also a big part of his career. According to FHS student Ethan Rivera, “Allen Iverson is very memorable, and one of my favorite NBA players ever because of the way he played basketball.” His constant defiance and pushing the boundaries of the NBA’s regulations on what a player could do off the court propelled him into one of the biggest superstars of the league. Allen’s journey to the NBA was not one without conflict, and many would believe that him even making it to college was a miracle. 

Iverson was raised in Hampton, Virginia by his young single mother. His father was in and out of jail for most of his childhood, so his mother had to do all she could to keep Iverson from turning to the streets. Luckily she was able to do so. Iverson was a High School phenom being Virginia Player of the Year for his amazing talent in both basketball and football winning the state championship in both. But when Iverson was just seventeen years old he and his friends got into a brawl in a bowling alley after racial slurs were said to them. Of the over twenty people involved in this fight, only Iverson and his three friends were arrested and convicted of any crimes. He was given five years in prison even though he had no prior charges. It seemed like all hope for an NBA future for Iverson was lost, but there was a large national outcry for the injustices that were served. The governor of Virginia pardoned Iverson and his friends and he was able to go home. 

Although Iverson was out of jail the trouble was not completely behind him, with his new bad reputation he was only offered to go to one Division 1 college. Coach John Thompson of the Georgetown Hoyas decided to give Iverson another shot.

 Iverson has since said this, “I feel like John Thompson saved my life, you know because he gave me another opportunity when everybody stopped recruiting me.” 

At Georgetown Iverson blossomed, he was a national sensation being a first team all american. After his first year at Georgetown Iverson declared for the 1996 NBA draft where he was selected with the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. Iverson would go on to be an icon in the NBA and is still remembered to this day as one of the best guards ever.