Allen Iverson is already thought-about a Philadelphia legend. Now a statue is making it official.
A decade after the group retired his iconic No. 3 jersey, Iverson is getting a statue on April 12, when the 76ers play their last evening house recreation of the season in opposition to the Orlando Magic. The statue will be a part of different Philadelphia basketball greats on the 76ers Legends Stroll on the group’s Coaching Advanced in Camden, N.J.
Iverson would be the tenth and most up-to-date addition to the Legends Stroll, becoming a member of the 9 different gamers whose jerseys have been retired by the group: Dolph Schayes, Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, Maurice Cheeks, Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham and Julius Erving.
“The Reply” received the NBA MVP award within the 2000-01 season, when he led the 76ers to their first NBA Finals look in 18 years, and their final one up to now. He led the league in scoring 4 instances and in steals 3 times whereas taking part in for the 76ers, and in his profession made 11 All-Star groups.
The 76ers began the Legends Stroll after their new observe facility opened in 2016, beginning with Greer, the primary participant whose jersey was retired by the group. Iverson will doubtless be the final statue for some time on the Stroll, though Joel Embiid has a powerful case for the honors every time his illustrious profession ends.
Whereas it is a nice honor for Iverson, it additionally speaks to how a lot the Sixers franchise has struggled within the final 20 years. There are 5 “Legends” from Philadelphia’s groups of the Eighties, however solely two (Barkley and Iverson) who performed for Philadelphia within the Nineteen Nineties.
It is onerous to develop into a legend once you aren’t competing for titles — one thing the 76ers have not critically executed since 2001, the final time they superior previous the second spherical of the playoffs. It is an awesome resolution to fee a statue for the enduring Iverson, however what Philly actually wants is extra gamers worthy of a sculpture.
