Allen Iverson's NBA journey took a sharp turn in 2009 and not in the way most fans would expect from a player of his stature. On Sept. 10, 2009, the former MVP signed a one-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies , marking what many hoped would be a fresh chapter in his illustrious career.
But from the get-go, it was clear that Iverson's role on the team was not what he envisioned. Coming off the bench didn't sit well with him, and after just three games, he left the team. This was the beginning of an uncomfortable end.
After a brief and emotional return to the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2009–10 season, "The Answer" found himself without a team. He played his final NBA game in a road loss to Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 20, 2010,
As the 2010 offseason rolled on, day after day passed without a single call from an NBA franchise.
For a player who had averaged 26.7 points per game over his career — placing him seventh all-time in scoring average at the time — it was hard to comprehend how no team saw value in him. He struggled to make sense of it.
"I got frustrated with the process of being a free agent," Iverson admitted. "Every time God open my eyes, I was waking up and asking like, 'What's going on? Did we get any calls?' No. No calls today. And it was wearing at me like it was actually killing me because I was waking up every morning thinking about that. Like every single morning."
The silence was deafening. A.I. was another veteran nearing the end of his career, but he was a four-time scoring champion, an 11-time All-Star, and a cultural icon. His reluctance to accept a bench role may have contributed to teams' hesitation, but the underlying feeling was that Iverson's strong personality and status as a former superstar made him a perceived threat to team chemistry.
He had previously fallen out of favor with the front offices of the Denver Nuggets , Detroit Pistons , Grizzlies, and even the Sixers. He once said that he would retire rather than be moved to be a role player.
On Nov. 25, 2009, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith published a statement from "The Answer" announcing his retirement from professional basketball. Iverson's frustration extended beyond the court, affecting his personal life.
"I'm frustrated," he said. "So, if I'm frustrated, obviously my wife is frustrated because she got to deal with me being frustrated. My kids are frustrated because the things they used to get away with can't get away with no more because I just snapped automatically … I wasn't being fair to them because I'm taking my frustration out on people that love me more than anybody. So, that frustration led to that retirement thing."
Retirement didn't stick. Less than a week after that announcement, Iverson and his representatives met with a Sixers delegation. Just a week later, after that perceived retirement, he signed a contract to return to the team where his career had begun.
While his presence brought back some excitement to the franchise, it was clear that the former All-Star wasn't the same player he once was. He played only 25 games, averaging 13.9 points per game, before leaving the team permanently in March 2010 due to personal issues.
With no NBA teams offering a deal, former Georgetown Hoya took his talents overseas for the Turkish side Besiktas. He played in the second-tier level of European professional basketball, and his stint in Turkey lasted just 10 games. After declining an offer to join a G League team, on Oct. 30, 2013, Iverson formally announced his retirement from basketball.
