On Monday, June 6, between Games 2 and 3 of the Finals, NBA TV will air the much-anticipated special Allen Iverson: The Answer at 8 p.m. ET. The frustrating, controversial, yet always compelling former Sixers star will sit down with Steve Smith for a primetime interview to discuss his legendary and, at times, tumultuous Hall of Fame career.
The hour-long special will also feature segments with former teammates, coaches, friends, and other associates such as Aaron McKie, Tyronn Lue, Larry Brown, John Thompson, Charles Barkley, Isiah Thomas, and more. It’ll cover both the highs and lows of his tenure in Philly, including his infamous “Practice” rant and his eventual departure amid the organization’s rebuilding efforts. Here’s a brief excerpt from that latter portion of the interview, via NBA TV’s official press release:
“I wish it never happened, but it was time because what I wanted [then]… If you’re not going to do what needs to be done to help us all, I’d rather be gone. I wish I would’ve just stuck in there, and not left. I wish I wouldn’t of left.”
Without a doubt, Iverson went on a steep decline from there and took a circuitous path through Denver, Detroit, and Memphis before finally landing back in Philadelphia as his career sputtered to a painful halt. The NBA TV special is just the latest in a string of biographies, documentaries, and think-pieces on a player who many consider one of the pound-for-pound toughest and deadliest players the game has ever seen.
