Throughout his NBA career, Allen Iverson didn't seem to have any problems facing bigger players and seasoned veterans. Instead, the real challenge he dealt with was constant criticism. Iverson wished people would accept him the way they did with NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman .
It didn't take long before Iverson realized that there was some sort of formula for being acceptable in the NBA. For A.I., Rodman's career was the blueprint, as he believed people admired winners regardless of their reputation as players and people.
"I think winning has a lot to do with it. When you're losing and you've got a bad rap, then that don't make it any better. But once you win, people try to understand you more. People get to know you easy in the playoffs. Make it to the Finals, and they'll get to know you. They'll listen to you," Iverson wrote in 1998 via ESPN.
"Like Dennis. Dennis is not a bad guy. I love Dennis Rodman! I love his game, I love the fact that he's who he is and he don't care about what people think. I love all of that about him," he said.
As an NBA newcomer, Iverson was exceptional. It was easy to see that with the way he played, he came to win and be the best in the game. However, no matter how exciting and impressive A.I. was on the court, he continued to struggle with brushing off his label.
In contrast, Rodman was unapologetic about living up to the infamy of his name and image. Yet, Iverson envied how people admired Rodman's skills as a player.
Despite that, Iverson's confidence and hope did not waver. He was convinced that fans would eventually appreciate him and what he brings to the game.
"Someday people are just going to have to accept me, that's all," Iverson further vented. "I think it'll happen. Someday."
What Iverson had hoped for finally came true during his 2000-01 season breakout. He finished the campaign with 31.1 points, 4.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game to win the NBA MVP award.
More importantly, The Answer led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals, a feat that the franchise hadn't't done in a while. At that point, Iverson could tell that people already recognized him for what he did best and not for anything else.
"I hate to say this, but winning changes things," the 2001 NBA MVP candidly reflected . "I'm still mostly the same person. People are just starting to accept me now. I think the media portrayed me unfairly from day one and blew a lot of things out of proportion."
"Now people are starting to see another side of me, that I have a family that I care about, including two children that I'm at home taking care of," he added.
In retrospect, Iverson's success as a player wasn't enough for the media and the fans to genuinely accept and respect him. After the 2001 Finals, Iverson went on to become one of the most prolific scorers in the league. Still, people were undoubtedly more interested in the controversies he was involved in.
Among those were his infamous practice rant and vocal disapproval of the NBA's dress code in 2005. Today, Iverson is remembered by many as one of the greatest and most influential players of all time. Unfortunately, there are still those who refuse to acknowledge his legacy.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
