Iverson to the sydney kings?

[Special K]

ALLEN Iverson has announced to his fans he intends to finish his illustrious basketball career playing in Sydney, presumably for the Kings. It's all news to the only Sydney franchise in the NBL, but "AI" - also known as "The Answer" - responded to rumours that he wants out from his contract playing in the Turkish league.

He wrote on Twitter: "I am very happy here in Istanbul, but if I don't return to the NBA I am considering a move to Australia after my two-year contract is up.

"I hear Sydney is a real good city to live in. my boy Rodney O asked me to come over. I am comin!"

Iverson, 35, is an 11-time NBA All-Star who topped the season scoring in the NBA four times. His 26.7 points per game ranks sixth all-time, and his playoff career scoring average of 29.7 points, second only to Michael Jordan.

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The NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2001 - and winner of the MVP award at the annual NBA All Stars game in 2005 - Iverson agreed to a $4 million, two-year deal with Besiktas to play in the Turkish and European leagues after no NBA team offered him a contract this year. He is averaging 9.6 points and 3.6 assists after five games.

Sydney Kings CEO Bob Turner quipped: "Tell you what, it would stop everybody talking about our need for a point guard, even though he's actually a shooting guard.

"But our salary cap might take a battering."

Rodney Overby, the voice of the Kings, like AI, is from Philadelphia.

"I would love for AI to come to the land Down Under and I would love for him to come to the Sydney Kings because we do need a point guard," Overby told The Daily Telegraph. "AI was one of the premier guards in the world. He would bring an unprecedented swagger to the NBL."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ney-kings-finale/story-e6frey6i-1225974625261

I'd probably go down after work and see AI play for the novelty. He would be 37 though... I wish he would just suck it up and be a role player as he was my fav player as a kid.

 

[andrew057]

AI would be huge for the league. I'd definitely go watch him play.

 

[betcats]

if he an still play in two years. Iversons game relied alot on his speed which he doesnt really have anymore.

 

[Goldthorpe]

Apparently it's all a hoax and the DT got roped in.

 

[Special K]

Even if he is 37 and has bung legs I could see the league investing in him to get some attention in a few years. AI is one of the biggest names in basketball from the past 20 years...

 

[Goldthorpe]

Even if he is 37 and has bung legs I could see the league investing in him to get some attention in a few years. AI is one of the biggest names in basketball from the past 20 years...

I'm not sure investing in washed-up superstars is the answer [pardon the pun].

I'd like to see the likes of Brad Newley, Joe Ingles, Liam Rush, Steven Markovic, Aron Baynes, Nathan Jawai, David Barlow, Matt Nielsen, AJ Ogilvy and Aleks Maric come back to the NBL. That's approximately 1 player per team and will make the NBL better.

 

[Special K]

You need name value though. As bad as AI could be on the court he would bring attention that the NBL has not seen in 15 years.

 

[Goldthorpe]

You need name value though. As bad as AI could be on the court he would bring attention that the NBL has not seen in 15 years.

Todd Fuller was as selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 11th overall pick of the 1996 NBA Draft (ahead of players like Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant) played for the South Dragons in 2006! Haha

Fuller was sacked by the club just 5 winless games into his NBL career.

There have been only 4 other NBA top-20 draft picks that have ended up playing in the NBL. Todd Lichti (pick 15 in 1989), Kevin Brooks (pick 18 in 1991), Acie Earl (pick 19 in 1993) and Randolph Childress (pick 19 in 1995).

Todd Fuller - NBL, there is/was your ANSWER!

 

[andrew057]

NBL fans, how good has Gary Ervin been for the league this season. He tears it up every game. Very exciting player.

 

[Goldthorpe]

NBL fans, how good has Gary Ervin been for the league this season. He tears it up every game. Very exciting player.

If the season ended today he would be MVP but having said Kirk Penney started late. Ervin is the Hawks best player and they have a 9-3 record - 2nd best in the league. Very similar to Tywain McKee last season.

He has won 1 Player of the Week award in Round 02 and leads the league in Points [23.8pg] and Assists [5.0pg]. Exciting player on TV but didn't do much in Perth when I watched him in Round 03 after winning the PotW.

 

[edabomb]

I think he'd still be a good NBL player at 37. If Gaze could excel at 40 Iverson should be able to at 37.

 

[Coleworld]

It would give the game a good boast especially in Sydney, I'm sure he could still do a few killer ankle breakers at 40. P.s the kings need to bring back the old Sydney Kings jerseys, new ones suck.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

I'd go and watch for sure.

 

[hellteam]

sh*t yeah, hope this goes ahead. Oh, and I hope the Bullets get a team back!

 

[McLovin]

Can't wait to be rockin' my new Kings Iverson jersey...

 

[betcats]

I think he'd still be a good NBL player at 37. If Gaze could excel at 40 Iverson should be able to at 37.

Just because one player plays on into his 40's doesn't mean that anyone can, thats just stupid. They are a Different style of player, Some players can excel long after the athletic abilities go into decline some cannot. Iverson has so muh talent that if he was willing to change his game a bit he could do it for sure in fact if he was willing to change his game he would probably still be in the NBA, his ego got in the way of that but,as i said Iversons game does and always has relied heavily on taking players off the dribble with his incredible ball handling and blinding speed, unfortunatley he is losing that speed at a rapid rate.

 

[Bluebag]

AI would be enormous for the game here and certainly raise the profile and would be the best credentialed import ever, should he deliver and the pace here is not as fast so he could cope.
The best import I have seen ever play here was the Late and truly great Owen Wells who played for the Sydney Supersonics before it was killed off to make this thing they call the Kings. He was a freak, 6ft 9in point guard who could do it all. It is a shame he didnt play the 50 games to qualify for our hall of fame he was huge as a player and the coolest guy ever.
He along with the other Sonics also played in the A grade comp when not playing NBL and the crowds at Alexandria were packed with over 1200 people and for those who have been there will know how packed that was.

 

[edabomb]

Just because one player plays on into his 40's doesn't mean that anyone can, thats just stupid. They are a Different style of player, Some players can excel long after the athletic abilities go into decline some cannot. Iverson has so muh talent that if he was willing to change his game a bit he could do it for sure in fact if he was willing to change his game he would probably still be in the NBA, his ego got in the way of that but,as i said Iversons game does and always has relied heavily on taking players off the dribble with his incredible ball handling and blinding speed, unfortunatley he is losing that speed at a rapid rate.

Agreed all players are different. But I'm pretty sure if Gaze can play well at 40 then a guy who was still averaging 17ppg in the NBA as a 34 year old will be fine in the NBL at 37-38. He obviously won't be averaging 25ppg, but he'd be one of the top 20 players in the league IMO.

I don't think he'll have to change his game to still be a good player in the NBL, the talent levels are such a step down from even EuroBall that he should be fine.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Would be awesome