The Ups and Downs of Allen Iverson
BET.com recaps the baller's journey.
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Behind the Tough Exterior - Once the NBA's most explosive point guard and shooting guard, Allen Iverson's personal life has all but overshadowed his professional glory since leaving the NBA in 2010. From his career highs to financial issues and recent child custody battle, BET.com looks back at Iverson's triumphs and troubles over the years. —Britt Middleton (Photo: Clay Patrick McBride/Getty Images)
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Early Struggles - Allen Ezail Iverson was born in Hampton, Virginia, on June 7, 1975, to Ann Iverson, a 15-year-old single parent. At 17, Iverson was convicted as an adult of the felony charge of maiming by mob for hitting a woman in the head with a chair during a neighborhood brawl (Iverson maintained his innocence). After serving four months in a correctional facility, he was granted clemency by Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder and the conviction was overturned in 1995 for insufficient evidence. (Photo: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
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Bouncing Back - Before his conviction, Iverson attended Bethel High School and excelled in football and as a point guard in basketball, earning the Associated Press High School Player of the Year award in both sports. Iverson finished his senior year of high school at Richard Milburn High School, a school for at-risk students, but his outstanding performance at Bethel was enough to attract Georgetown University coach John Thompson, who offered Iverson a full scholarship. (Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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Eyes on the Prize - Iverson played just two seasons with the Hoyas, leading the team to a Big East championship before entering the NBA draft in 1996. He was selected as the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Welcome to the Big Leagues - The point guard took the Rookie of the Year title in 1996, averaging 23.5 points per game, and continued to advance the team's win-loss record over subsequent seasons. Prior to the 2000-2001 season, Iverson inked a six-year, $70 million contract extension with the team. However his persistent run-ins with coach Larry Brown made as many headlines as Iverson's prowess on the court.(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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Olympic-size Opportunity - In 2004, Iverson played on behalf of the United States during the 2004 Summer Games, bringing home a bronze medal in men's basketball. It was a disappointing turn for team USA, who had a gold medal-winning reputation to uphold. (Photo: Friedemann Vogel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Career High - Remembered as perhaps his best season in the NBA, he led the 76ers to the 2001 NBA Finals (they would lose to the Los Angeles Lakers). However, tension between Iverson and the coaching staff continued to brew and Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2006. That season, in a game against the 76ers, Iverson was handed down two technical fouls and ejected from the game and later fined $25,000 by the NBA for criticizing referee Steve Javie after the game. (Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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Trendsetter - Both on and off the court, Iverson was known for signature tattoos and cornrows. He was also one of the league's most vocal opponents of the NBA commissioner David Stern-backed athlete dress code banning athletes from wearing chains, pendants and other items when on the bench during games or on team business. Iverson is also credited with first popularizing the shooting sleeves commonly worn today by stars like Carmelo Anthony. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Another Exit - On Sept. 10, 2009, Iverson signed a one-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, but only played three games with the team and spent the majority of his tenure as a bench player. In November 2009, citing "personal reasons," he left the Grizzlies. One month later, to the delight of fans, he returned to the 76ers. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
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NBA Farewell - On February 22, 2010, he announced that he was leaving the 76ers indefinitely to attend to his 4-year-old daughter's health issues, ending his 14-year NBA career. His career highlights include being a four-time NBA scoring champion, three-time NBA steals leader, NBA Most Valuable Player (2001) and an 11-time NBA All-Star. (Photo: Mike Nelson/AFP/Getty Images)
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The End of the Road - On Oct. 26, 2010, Iverson signed a two-year, $4 million net income contract with Beşiktaş Milangaz, a Turkish Basketball League team. He returned to the U.S. for calf surgery in 2011. Since leaving the NBA, Iverson's finances have plummeted, with reports that he was completely broke last February. It’s estimated that he made more than $150 million in salary in the NBA. (Photo: EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU/Landov)