10 Things We Learned From Allen Iverson's Documentary

Iverson movie aired on Showtime on Saturday night.

186784413JS014_Celebrities_

1 / 11

Iverson Documentary Aired on Showtime on Saturday Night - Raw and uncut, Showtime's Iverson documentary on Saturday night (May 16) showed the ups and downs of NBA legend Allen Iverson — from nothing in Hampton, Virginia to an unfair prison bid, NBA stardom and much more. Misunderstood, but always real and true to himself, Iverson opened up in some ways, but remained shielded in others. Through it all, we learned plenty about "The Answer" that we didn't know before. Here are some of those things.—Mark Lelinwalla (Photo: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images)

Nickname Was 'Bubba Chuck' - A.I. and "The Answer" were the Allen Iverson nicknames that mainstream America came to know the NBA superstar by. But way before then, he was simply known as "Bubba" or "Bubba Chuck" around the way in Hampton, Virginia. The nickname was given to him by his uncles.(Photo: Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

2 / 11

Nickname Was 'Bubba Chuck' - A.I. and "The Answer" were the Allen Iverson nicknames that mainstream America came to know the NBA superstar by. But way before then, he was simply known as "Bubba" or "Bubba Chuck" around the way in Hampton, Virginia. The nickname was given to him by his uncles.(Photo: Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

Felt He Was Railroaded - Even though Allen Iverson left the scene of a wild bowling-alley brawl on February 14, 1993, he was slapped with a felony charge of maiming by a mob with his friends. Iverson, just 17 at the time and viewed as a top national basketball prospect, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with 10 years suspended. Looking back, Iverson believes he was "railroaded" by the legal system and those close to him shared that it was because he was a young, gifted Black man bound for major success who racists in Virginia wanted to make an example of.(Photo: Kartemquin via Youtube)

3 / 11

Felt He Was Railroaded - Even though Allen Iverson left the scene of a wild bowling-alley brawl on February 14, 1993, he was slapped with a felony charge of maiming by a mob with his friends. Iverson, just 17 at the time and viewed as a top national basketball prospect, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with 10 years suspended. Looking back, Iverson believes he was "railroaded" by the legal system and those close to him shared that it was because he was a young, gifted Black man bound for major success who racists in Virginia wanted to make an example of.(Photo: Kartemquin via Youtube)

Best Advice While Serving Time - Struggling with the harsh reality of serving 15 years behind bars, Allen Iverson disclosed how a friend gave him the "best advice" of, "You're not getting out of here...do what you have to do." In other words, do the time, don't let the time do you.(Photo: Kartemquin via Youtube)

4 / 11

Best Advice While Serving Time - Struggling with the harsh reality of serving 15 years behind bars, Allen Iverson disclosed how a friend gave him the "best advice" of, "You're not getting out of here...do what you have to do." In other words, do the time, don't let the time do you.(Photo: Kartemquin via Youtube)

GYI0000661707.jpg

5 / 11

Tom Brokaw Did a Lot For Iverson - Looking back on his prison bid, Allen Iverson thanked Tom Brokaw for his early release. A.I. says that the legendary newsman's prison interview with him and overall segment garnered enough national attention to pave the way for then-Virginia governor Douglas Wilder to grant him clemency in 1995. Instead of serving a 15-year-sentence as originally ruled, Iverson's conviction was overturned for insufficient evidence and Iverson left prison after only four months. Interviewed, as part of the documentary, Brokaw thought Iverson's 15-year sentence was "surprisingly harsh." Iverson said, "I have lot of love for NBC and Tom Brokaw. He did a lot for me."(Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Iverson's Mother Got Him in Georgetown - With a damaged reputation from his prison bid, Allen Iverson needed help to get a college program to roll the dice on him. Legendary former Georgetown coach John Thompson did just that...but only after Iverson's mom, Ann Iverson, cornered him and convinced him with a long private conversation. Mom to the rescue.(Photo: M. David Leeds/Allsport/Getty Images)

6 / 11

Iverson's Mother Got Him in Georgetown - With a damaged reputation from his prison bid, Allen Iverson needed help to get a college program to roll the dice on him. Legendary former Georgetown coach John Thompson did just that...but only after Iverson's mom, Ann Iverson, cornered him and convinced him with a long private conversation. Mom to the rescue.(Photo: M. David Leeds/Allsport/Getty Images)

John Thompson Saved Iverson's Life - Allen Iverson doesn't flinch today saying that "John Thompson saved my life," adding he was "my idol, hero, father figure away from home."(Photo: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

7 / 11

John Thompson Saved Iverson's Life - Allen Iverson doesn't flinch today saying that "John Thompson saved my life," adding he was "my idol, hero, father figure away from home."(Photo: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

51575991LB_D024289005

8 / 11

"How You Looked is How You Played" - The cornrows, 20-plus tattoos, jewelry and baggy clothes...Allen Iverson believed his style off the court led to how he played on it. Raw and uncut.(Photo; Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

Left a Reebok Commercial Middle of Shoot - During one part in the documentary, Todd Krinsky, Vice President of Reebok, shares a story about how "The Answer" cut a commercial shoot for his own sneakers short with two scenes and 90 minutes left. This was around the time when A.I. was going past making a personal statement, and instead, being flat out detrimental to himself on and off the court with his decisions and lack of regard.(Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images)

9 / 11

Left a Reebok Commercial Middle of Shoot - During one part in the documentary, Todd Krinsky, Vice President of Reebok, shares a story about how "The Answer" cut a commercial shoot for his own sneakers short with two scenes and 90 minutes left. This was around the time when A.I. was going past making a personal statement, and instead, being flat out detrimental to himself on and off the court with his decisions and lack of regard.(Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images)

Iverson Blames Himself For 99 Percent of Rifts With Larry Brown - Allen Iverson's run-ins with coach Larry Brown during their Philadelphia 76ers days were significant. Looking back, A.I. accepts the blame for 99 percent of those issues with the legendary coach and cites being young with different opinions as the main factor. Brown, in turn, mentions how Iverson would always mutter something under his breath when he was benched. Still, both men say the love for each other was always there.(Photo: MIKE NELSON/AFP/Getty Images)

10 / 11

Iverson Blames Himself For 99 Percent of Rifts With Larry Brown - Allen Iverson's run-ins with coach Larry Brown during their Philadelphia 76ers days were significant. Looking back, A.I. accepts the blame for 99 percent of those issues with the legendary coach and cites being young with different opinions as the main factor. Brown, in turn, mentions how Iverson would always mutter something under his breath when he was benched. Still, both men say the love for each other was always there.(Photo: MIKE NELSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Friend's Death Buried Under Practice Rant - What was buried under the headline of Allen Iverson's infamous 2002 "practice" rant — in which he said the word practice more than a dozen times during a postgame press conference — was that his good friend had been violently killed. The documentary says that the death of Rahsaan Langeford, put A.I. in the mood that prompted the "practice" rant. In addition, John Thompson says that people missed the point Iverson was trying to make, explaining he wasn't complaining about actually practicing, but more so that reporters were wasting time asking him about missed practices when he was the undoubted leader and star of the team that played with all heart.(Photo: TOM MIHALEK/AFP/Getty Images)

11 / 11

Friend's Death Buried Under Practice Rant - What was buried under the headline of Allen Iverson's infamous 2002 "practice" rant — in which he said the word practice more than a dozen times during a postgame press conference — was that his good friend had been violently killed. The documentary says that the death of Rahsaan Langeford, put A.I. in the mood that prompted the "practice" rant. In addition, John Thompson says that people missed the point Iverson was trying to make, explaining he wasn't complaining about actually practicing, but more so that reporters were wasting time asking him about missed practices when he was the undoubted leader and star of the team that played with all heart.(Photo: TOM MIHALEK/AFP/Getty Images)