Allen Iverson speaks about his sad career ending: "I committed professional suicide"
The former guard of the Philadelphia 76ers admits that his pride prevented him from accepting a secondary role in the NBA and affected the end of his career. After leaving Memphis and briefly returning to Philadelphia, he tried his luck in Turkey, although an injury prematurely ended his adventure.
An NBA legend who missed the farewell he desired
The history of the NBA cannot be understood without influential and controversial figures like Allen Iverson. The legendary guard of the Philadelphia 76ers was one of the most pivotal perimeter players of his generation. His scoring ability made him a constant threat to his rivals, despite his height. Throughout his career, he led the league in scoring four times, won the MVP award in 2001, and played in the NBA Finals. He was also included in the 75th anniversary team of the competition.
However, his trajectory in the league ended abruptly in 2010. In February of that year, Iverson concluded his second stint in Philadelphia, where he had returned with a non-guaranteed contract after terminating his deal with the Memphis Grizzlies early in the season.
The guard did not play another game in the NBA. Months later, in October 2010, he surprised everyone by announcing his signing with the Turkish team Besiktas, with a contract worth four million dollars for two seasons.
His adventure in Turkey ended prematurely
At 35 years old, Iverson arrived in Istanbul as a true idol. His arrival generated immense anticipation, but his time at Besiktas lasted less than expected.
In January 2011, a calf injury requiring surgery led both parties to agree to terminate the contract. That experience ultimately became one of the most defining episodes of his professional career's conclusion.
Iverson himself recently reflected on his time in Turkish basketball on the podcast The Underground Lounge, hosted by Lou Williams, also a former NBA player. During the conversation, he acknowledged that his ego played a decisive role in his inability to say goodbye to the American competition in the way he would have liked. He even described his decision to go to Besiktas as a "professional suicide."
"I think I realized even before going there, to Turkey, and during the trip, that I had committed professional suicide," he confessed.
The pride of not accepting a bench role
Iverson explained that he was aware his decisions could harm him, but he found it hard to accept that he would have to prove his worth again in the NBA. He recounted that several teams had shown interest in him, although they warned him that he would have to start games as a substitute.
That possibility had already generated his dissatisfaction during his brief stint in Memphis, where he only played three games before leaving.
"I knew it, from the decisions I was making. It was as if I could not accept the fact that I had to prove my worth again. Many teams talked about signing me, but they were already telling me that I would come off the bench," he recalled.
The former guard admitted that his self-perception prevented him from facing that situation differently. He believed he could still be the best player at his position on a team and was not willing to accept a secondary role.
"I mean, I'm fine. In the training camp... I know they're not going to have a better guard than me on their team. I thought that way, instead of saying: 'Well, just bring me in.' I think I committed professional suicide by making it clear that I had an issue with coming off the bench. And that was my ego. That was my pride. In my whole life, I never did that. It wasn't my thing," he admitted.
His words reflect the conflict he experienced in the final stretch of his career: the difficulty of accepting a different role than the one he had played during his best years in the NBA.
His retirement and the recognition from Philadelphia
After rejecting several offers to continue playing in lower leagues and even in the developmental league, Iverson officially announced his retirement in 2013.
Although he could not say goodbye to the NBA courts as he would have liked, the Philadelphia 76ers paid tribute to him with one of the greatest honors a player from a franchise can receive. In 2014, the team retired his number 3 jersey and raised it to the rafters of their arena, cementing his status as a Philadelphia legend.
Two years later, in 2016, his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame was made official, a definitive recognition of the career of one of the most influential guards of his generation.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Allen Iverson habla de su triste final de carrera: "Cometí un suicidio profesional"