Allen Iverson Says A Big 3 Of He, Michael Jordan, And Shaquille O’Neal Would Go Undefeated

Philadelphia 76ers v New Jersey Nets
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Allen Iverson is many things.

Controversial. A fighter. Icon. Temperamental. Pain in the ass. Innovator. All those descriptions would be true, but the word that stands out even more than those words is honest. Brutally honest, and sometimes to a fault. Throughout his entire career Iverson let fans, media members, coaches, and fellow players know exactly what was on his mind without a trace of filter. He spoke honestly about his struggles, both professionally and personally. And he was ahead of his time in questioning the need for excessive practices.

What you saw with Iverson – the doo rags, tattoos, baggy pants, and more – was all him and true to himself. It was his honesty, style, and innovative playing style that defined a generation of basketball players. Perhaps no other player had a greater influence on the NBA’s current crop of superstars.

That genuineness and honesty are on full display in Chris Palmer’s sprawling profile of Iverson in Bleacher Report. One of the highlights? The Answer saying his dream Big Three comprised of he, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal would never lose a game – irrespective of their teammates.

Your all-time Big Three?

“Wow,” he says dreamily. “Me, Mike and Shaq.” He looks at me. “We’d go 82-0 even with you in the backcourt.”

Granted, these are three of the greatest players of all time. Jordan has long been considered the best player ever, while Shaq and A.I. were often unguardable. On defense, Jordan on the wings and Shaq patrolling the paint would be formidable, and Iverson would be able to roam and jump in passing lanes. He did lead the league in steals and points in back-to-back seasons in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, after all. Iverson, Shaq and Jordan hold the seventh, twentieth, and first highest scoring points per game averages in league history, too.

Despite all that awesomeness, there are significant questions about the lineup. No one knows if Palmer can shoot or what his handle is, and can the scribe D up when he needs to?

Neither of those three were known for their passing abilities, or better yet, their willingness to pass. Their greatest successes came from playing with a deferential second banana (Scottie Pippen), a team surrounded by misfits who let them take 30-35 shots every game (the 2001 Sixers) and Shaq…well, that’s another story.

He coexisted with Kobe Bryant for multiple seasons, who’s the closest thing to playing with MJ. So maybe he and Jordan would be okay – for a season. I don’t think Shaq would threaten to murder His Airness, though. Come to think of it, he really might.

Either way, it would be a great spectacle watching those three try to coexist on the court. Just who would be able to coach them, though? It would have to be the Zen Master himself, Phil Jackson. No coach is better equipped to handle those egos than Jackson. You could say maybe Pat Riley, but things didn’t end so well for Shaq and Riles in Miami.

Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson
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So no, the team wouldn’t work out, but damn would it be fun to watch those three try to figure it out.

Other highlights from the piece include Iverson’s thoughts on today’s current NBA players’ fashion sense. He’s not a fan.

“No comment,” he says. “If I say what I really want, there’s a lot of people who are going to be pissed off.”
Would you ever wear skinny jeans?
“What the hell would I look like wearing some skinny jeans?” he says. “Skinny as I am? I might disappear.”

His biggest disappointment besides not winning a championship? Being left off the 2008 Olympic basketball team.

“That one really stung,” says Iverson. He pauses for several seconds. “That hurt. I still think about it to this day. I wanted it so bad. I wanted another shot. It was my chance to make it all right. I was all in. Me and Tim Duncan talked about it a lot. It was our dream to come back in four years and win gold.”

And his favorite player is Russell Westbrook, who seems to be a favorite of Iverson’s generation of players.

“He’s a certified killer,” Iverson says. “Certified! He reminds me a lot of me.”

Iverson’s originality and bluntness in today’s game is missed. In an era where too many players sound scripted and inauthentic, it’s nice to remember just what a breath of fresh air Iverson was when he came into the league in 1996. There are not many players of his ilk left.

At least we still have the Kobe Bean Bryant. Well, for one more year, that is.

(Bleacher Report)

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