We knew this day was coming.
Allen Iverson, affectionately known around the NBA and its fans as “The Answer,” hasn’t played a professional game since January 8, 2011. Yet, anytime he walks in front of the media and a microphone, it is bound to be an emotional experience.
Such was the case Wednesday as Iverson officially announced his retirement.
The NBA tweeted the announcement.
Allen Iverson officially announces his retirement from basketball. #phillyfarewell on @NBATV & http://t.co/4MMkZPtF7u pic.twitter.com/N4kQCaMvMz
— NBA (@NBA) October 30, 2013
[Credit to ESPN for the following video of the announcement.]
Iverson met with the press in Philadelphia, where he spent the first 10—and, without argument, best—years of his career.
After journeying through Denver, Detroit, Memphis and back (albeit briefly) to Philadelphia, then onward to Turkey, it seemed fitting to officially retire in the city where it all started. For Sixers fans, the prodigal son had come home.
Iverson seemed at peace as he formally steps away from basketball.
I promise you it is a happy day for me. I really thought this day would be a tough day for me, but it’s a happy day. As far as coach Bailey and coach Thompson and coach Brown, I feel like all I wanted them to be is be proud of the basketball player they created. And my teammates helping me accomplish the things that I’ve been able to accomplish.
“Basketball has been great to me. It allowed me to take care of my family for the rest of their lives, it made me a household name. It showed me a lot in life, it taught me a lot in life. Relationships with teammates, the competitiveness of everything, it’s real life. It’s just a game, it’s real life but it’s a game that teaches you a lot about life and sacrifice and what you have to do to win in basketball and in life.”
Hall of Fame Indiana Pacers shooting guard and TNT NBA analyst Reggie Miller had some great words for Iverson.
.@alleniverson had the heart of a lion, congrats on a fantastic career, I luv’d the battles throughout the years. 1st ballot HOF’er, EASY…
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) October 30, 2013
There is no debate regarding Iverson’s greatness or his competitive fire. As Miller suggests, he is a surefire future first ballot Hall of Fame inductee.
Iverson had one final message to all of his fans.
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Michael writes the Tweet of the Day for SheridanHoops.com and is also a correspondent for BleacherReport.com.