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The Allen Iverson era is all but over
Published: December 10, 2006 by The Bohol Standard

PHILADELPHIA - Allen Iverson is no longer Philadelphia’s headache. Then again, maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, this much is sure: One of the great players in franchise history has likely played his last game for the 76ers. Iverson wants out and Philadelphia will grant his wish.

“It’s just time for him to go his way and for us to go our way,” Sixers chairman Ed Snider said Friday night.

During a bizarre day, Iverson was first banished by the club for two games and then Snider said the Sixers would trade their disgruntled franchise player after he asked to be dealt. It would end Iverson’s 11-year stint with the team that made him the No. 1 pick in the 1996 draft.

The A.I. era is all but over.

“As hard as it is to admit, a change may be the best thing for everyone,” Iverson said. “I hate admitting that because I love the guys on the team and the city of Philadelphia. I truly wanted to retire a 76er.”

Team president Billy King and coach Maurice Cheeks said Iverson was sent home before Friday night’s 113-98 loss to the Washington Wizards because he didn’t practice a day earlier and left Wednesday’s blowout loss at Chicago with back spasms. King said the move was not a suspension and Iverson’s future would be re-evaluated after Saturday night’s game at Orlando.

“Allen was not able to practice (Thursday) because of the back and today Mo made a decision not to play him tonight or tomorrow,” King said. “We told him to just take the night off and tomorrow.”

Snider confirmed that Iverson did ask this week to be dealt.

“We’re going to trade him,” Snider said. “At a certain point, you have to come to grips with the fact that it’s not working. He wants out and we’re ready to accommodate him.”

Snider said Iverson has “probably” played his last game with the Sixers, ending a career that placed him with Julius Erving, Charles Barkley and Wilt Chamberlain among the team’s greats.

“I really didn’t see it coming because Allen says all the right things, and I thought that he really was behind Mo and what we were trying to accomplish,” Snider said. “Obviously, he’s not.”

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