So Long A.I.
The 76ers announce that Iverson will not return to the team
By KELLY BAYLISS and DAN STAMM
Updated 5:54 PM EDT, Tue, Mar 2, 2010
After Monday night’s 126-105 loss to the Orlando Magic, a source close to the team claimed that “the Answer” is no, Allen Iverson will not suit up for the 76ers again this season, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
And now, the organization has confirmed that information in a statement released Tuesday morning.
"After discussing the situation with Allen, we have come to the conclusion that he will not return to the Sixers for the remainder of the season, as he no longer wishes to be a distraction to the organization and teammates that he loves very deeply," 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski said. "It has been very difficult for Allen and the team to maintain any consistency as he tries to balance his career with his personal life."
Iverson has not been with the Sixers since Feb. 20 when he took a second leave to care for his sick daughter Messiah. The organization felt it best for A.I. to “deal with a very serious issue far greater than the game of basketball.”
Iverson signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Sixers in December 2009 and soon after, his contract was extended to keep him with the team through the 2009/2010 season.
This move seems to officially end round two of the A.I. experiment. In total he suited up 25 times for the Sixers averaging 12.3 points and 3.7 assists per game -- a far cry from his numbers during first stint in Philly.
It's likely that Iverson has played his final game for the Sixers and now the question is if he has played his final game in the NBA.
First Published: Mar 2, 2010 8:06 AM EDT
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