The Answer

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79WSHpMU894 New York just announced they're not interested in signing Iverson. Iveron's days as an impactful NBA player has officially ended. I don't know if he'll ever play again.

Since his reputation is now shit and kiddies/new fans may not know about this man...

here's his performance in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals.

A brief history lesson going into this game: The Lakers geled near the end of the season, won like their final 11 games and swept through the first three rounds of the playoffs. So they came into this game riding a 22 game win streak.

Hell, even without the streak, the Lakers were heavy favorites anyways. They won 56 games in a tough-as-hell West conference while facing injury/chemistry problems early on in the season (this ist he year Kobe first turned into a superstar and him and Shaq started battling for Alpha Dog status) while the Sixers won 52 in a pathetically weak East conference.

This was the ultimate David vs Goliath matchup--almost literally considering Shaq is Shaq and Iverson is 5'11 and 150 pounds.

But check out how Iverson kept attacking the hoop. He kept taking it to Shaq, he kept driving to the rim. The man was relentless. He'd finish with 30 points in the first half as Marv Albert famously said "Allen Iverson ripping the Lakers apart!"

(this soundbyte aint in this video, but I remember cause I have this game on tape at home. Stupid Youtube...years ago I thought I'd make money one day selling my basketball tapes cause I have all these legendary games on VHS, but now youtube surely has dropped demand for my tapes)

But yeah, second half, the Lakers unleashed Tyronne Lue--who played somewhat illegal holding defense--along with a half court trap offense and contained Iverson. The Lakers took the lead back.

But then, in OT. Iverson broke free, hit a jumper over Lue. And STEPPED OVER HIS fallen body after the bucket. The ultimate "Fuck you" and the dagger.

This game is easily one of hte top five greatest individual performances in the playoffs this decade.

In no particular order (I'm coming out with this list off the top my head right now, but this list is legit cause my memory of league history is insane)

1: Iverson, game 1 vs Lakers, 2001 Finals

2: Duncan, game 6 vs Nets, 2003 Finals

near quad double with something like 20, 17, 10, 8 blocks

3: Lebron, game 5 vs Pistons, 2007 ECF

48 points, including hte final 25 and something like 29 of the last 30 of the Cavs points

4: Shaq, game 2 vs Sixers, 2001 Finals

something like 34 18 with like 7 blocks on like 60% shooting. Forget the exact details.

5: Wade, game 6 vs Mavs, 2006 Finals

this one deserves an asterik cause the refs bailed him out with alot of bullshit calls, but still.