Allen Iverson is making it official: He is retiring from the NBA.
An 11-time All-Star, Iverson announced at a press conference in Philadelphia he is finished playing professional basketball.
“I’m formally announcing my retirement from basketball,” Iverson said. “I thought once this day came it would be basically a tragic day. 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.”
Iverson, 38, played 15 professional seasons in the NBA. He hasn’t played in the NBA since Feb. 2010 and had a brief stint in Turkey. He spent time with the 76ers, Nuggets, Pistons and Grizzlies before officially finishing his career in Philadelphia.
Known not just as one of the game’s greatest scorers, but also for reshaping the culture of the NBA, Iverson acknowledged his influence.
“I took an asskicking for me being me in my career, for me looking the way I looked and dressing the way I dressed,” Iverson said. “My whole thing was just being me. Now you look around the NBA and all of them have tattoos, guys wearing corn rows. You used to think the suspect was the guy with the corn rows. Now you see the police officers with the corn rows.”
Iverson won the MVP in 2001 and led the 76ers to a Finals appearance that season where they lost to the Lakers in five games.
“I gave everything I had to basketball and the passion is still there, the desire to play is just not,” he said. “I just feel good that I’m happy with the decision I’m making. It was a great ride.”
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