How Good Was Allen Iverson REALLY? 

If Prime Iverson played today, where would he rank among the best Guards in todays game?

As Kobe said “ The NBA was lucky Iverson wasn’t a 6’5” guard.”

That Iverson vs. Lakers in the finals was epic. That dude had no help and got a win off the playoff-undefeated Lakers. I will never forget that moment.

There's another top stat not mentioned about AI: Most broken ankles administered

His toughness and the fact that he played through injuries is something you don't see from superstars anymore.

A.I. is the reason I fell in love with basketball. I remember when I was a 13 year old scrawny, small kid, waking up at 4 AM in Romania to watch basketball games being broadcast for the first time, it was the 1999-2000 season. This man was just mesmerizing, what he was able to do, it was a huge inspiration not just for me, but to small people everywhere, that heart and sheer will are going to get you far. No one I've seen has played with more intensity, passion, drive than AI. He changed the landscape of the NBA, he transcended basketball, he brought hip hop culture in the NBA, brought cornrows and arm sleeves, and he was as honest as a man can be, first with himself, and then with others. He was a case of David among many Goliaths, and that's why people loved him so much. In my book AI is easily top 5 SG of all time.

Iverson was entertainment at it's finest, It was like watching one player in fast forward while the rest of the players were at normal speed.

When you're 6ft and 165lbs (with Ink) and do what he did, you're definitely not overrated.

Iverson was bigger than basketball and his legacy is cemented as an all-time great. His fans loved him because as stated himself, he did everything his own way. This man made cornrows cool, arm sleeves became fashionable, and he unapologetically showed off his tattoos. A lot of the guards that came after him wore #3 because of him. AI integrated hip-hop style with basketball and revolutionized it coming into the arenas such that David Stern had to enforce that infamous dress code in the mid-2000s. On the court, he battled through countless injuries, had multiple seasons averaging 40+ minutes per game, and relentlessly attacked the paint. Dude was a walking bucket.

He’s number 1 on my list. This man inspired me to pick up the ball and give it all I had to be picked to play for once on the court.... Man, I thank him for that!

Yes, the stats are amazing and stand alone as a testament to how good he was, but stats aside......Iverson had a magic quality about him.....it was the type of magic that Jordan had.....every time you watched him play you just were in awe and knew you were watching a once in a lifetime player.

One of Iverson's most underrated attributes, which also isn't mentioned, was how he put teams in foul trouble nearly every game, he was doing what Harden does now (only he was taking beat downs)...in his MVP season, he had 11 different injuries on his body, an unstoppable 6ft 165lber, with insane athleticism and skills and even more heart...we've seen other greats in all different categories be emulated to varying degrees, but Iverson is really in a league of his own when it comes to being a rare breed, especially the way the league is going, if you didn't see AI play, then you missed it, you'll never see anything to compare without bending the context.

What no one ever talks about is how for 7 or 9 seasons (i cant remember) he led the league in minutes. The man was 175 lbs soaking wet running up and down the floor getting hammered going to the hole. No ever talks about the stamina that man had.

Great enough to be called ( The Answer )

AI’s heart and love of the game is always left out of these conversations. His teammates never have anything bad to say about Iverson. I watched an interview with Chris Weber and he smiles from ear to ear when he talks about Iverson. I watched an interview with a man from Hampton, Va. When AI went to jail he was asked to describe him. He said “take the smallest nail in the hardware store and try to bend it, that’s Allen Iverson.”

As a kid I remember hearing stories and reading articles in magazines about this Iverson guy..... then finally I got to watch him play his freshman year at Georgetown.... Only took me one game to see and believe that the hype wasn't hype..... AI was simply the Answer!

He's the bravest and most enduring NBA player I had seen.

Im from Philly. Saw Iverson whole career. Im also huge nba fan. That lil dude was UNREAL!!!

Whoever thinks Iverson is a stat stuffing fool is not a real fan

He was an INCREDIBLE player. I remember watching him play in person a couple times, thinking his skill and athletic ability was unbelievable. Something you'd have to see in person to fully comprehend. His highlight reels are mind blowing, but even the less exciting moments in his career, is still nothing short of impressive.

My favorite player. After Jordan retired 2nd time, Iverson carried my nba excitement and made me want to play. Still, Jordan, Iverson, and Kobe were my favorite players I was able to watch. More than LeBron

Good point about the Denver FG%. Never realized there was such a difference

When I was a kid, we had a conspiracy that AI was secretly Hot Sauce from And1

My god! Look how he gets up there so effortlessly! Im so glad to have grown up in the Iverson era

Allen Iverson was flat out AMAZING!!’ The physical play also had a lot to do with him shooting a lower percentage. Some of the guys that he was compared to who played more recently didn’t experience that. He could be one of the top 5 ever when u factor in size and weight! When u look at the fact that he has the 2nd highest playoff average over a career, it is hard to deny it. I imagine if he had joined another hall of fame and another solid player that he would have had a chance to get a ring, but he wasn’t ring chasing!

Good work on this, Jonny. A fair examination of Iverson’s record.

Its impossible to argue with stats like that. that's average over 13 years. You have to be one of the GOATs to pull numbers like that off.

The Answer took a beating every night carrying those trash 76’s into the playoffs every year. Just look at the injuries he sustained and played through over his career. You also gotta remember that he put up his high 20’s ppg career averages in the lowest scoring era in NBA history, thanks solely to hand checking and refs letting zone defense slide. Games were usually like 79-77, and the Answer would have 30 of them easy. You wanna talk about leflop not having help? pfff, Iverson had jack shit for help when his east was more competitive then the east leflop would be blessed with. Pound for pound Iverson is the greatest player of all time. Kobe phrased it best, “We should all be thankful Iverson was not 6 foot 5.”

Not sure about best guards ever ranking, but he was the fastest player I’ve ever seen live. Watching games on TV I knew he was fast, but seeing him live blew my mind. Came to Portland to play my blazers, he was playing off the ball in the corner, got a back screen and cut across the baseline to the other corner for a catch and shoot three. I couldn’t believe how fast he got from one corner to the other! Polarizing or not, he was something special

i've never heard anyone saying The Answer was overrated

AI was my favorite non home team player growing up. Seeing him in the playoffs was much watch television. There are certainly many arguments to be made against him from an advanced stats perspective, but if you grew up watching him there is no doubt he was one of the greatest players of his era, a true super-star and deserving perennial all-star and, yes, definitely the best pound for pound player the NBA has ever seen.

1. You can't "Chucker" unless you can FIRST get your shot. 2. Iverson wasn't a great shooter. If He had Curry's shot, he would have averaged FORTY. 3. Iverson is one of the top 5 quickest guards ever to play in the NBA 4. NO CENTER EVER BLOCKED HIS LAYUPS. 5. As a small guard, and style of play, his degree of difficulty was high.

For his size and lack of talent around him for his first 10 years of his career I would rank him #1 and I’m a die hard Lakers fan. But I know better because I watched him play. If he had just one guy like a Scottie Pippen type of calbur he’d have at least one ring. He’d be in conversation for greatest of all time.

Don’t know where he ranks, but man, he was fun to watch. He made defenders, good defenders, look stupid and he could finish an alley oop convincingly at 6 foot even. Can’t really think of anyone else like him.

We in Philadelphia love Allen Iverson because he works hard. Every night didn't practice much. And when no other team wanted we brought him back he cried and we cried to he is one of the greatest and hard-working players in the NBA history.

Played with so much passion. Put the hope of the whole city on his back! It was criminal what the 76ers put around him. I used to hate watching him have to pass and his teammates missing wide open shots all game.

The man was legendary and will never see nothing like it again! Basketball wasn't even his best sport! Top 100 highschool football legend! #facts!

My favourite player of all time. Thank you for this video.

100% spot on. Great video. Greatest pound for pound player of all time! Had he only been surrounded with true talent.

Iverson was my favorite player growing up. A true warrior. That 76ers team he carried to the Finals was so trash. I rank him as the 2nd best SG of all time after MJ. Iverson and Shaq definitely could have won 3 straight together.

The Answer was one of my favorite players ever. To watch him go up and down that court with that speed...pfiew...probably the most efficient ball handler of all time. The guy could dribble like none other. If you compare his ball handling with kyrie for example.... Kyrie over dribbles like a mug. Iverson used his ball handling to get where he wants to go in the blink of an eye. And this was with hand checking and little holds. Iverson truly broke down his defenders.

If AI were Kobe or Jordan size it would be child’s play

I do not really care about the numbers. I honestly enjoyed watching him play. He could be spectacular at times. Do not care about his training thing, Do not care what he did in his personal life. He was one of the best to watch. Entertainment at the highest level. Is that not what its all about?

AI was amazing on TV, but even more-so in person...to this day, he is the most amazing player I've ever seen play live. Watching his skill set was a sight to behold.

I didn’t pay attention to NBA back in those days, but looking at his stats it is quite apparent that he delivered each time he stepped onto the court in a pretty spectacular way. He didn’t just play, he played with the singular focus to score and win no matter who he was up against. He wasn’t so bothered by the material world or the state of his own finances, but come game day he focused ALL his energy and talent on exactly what counts in a basketball game.

These videos clarify a LOT ! Always heard that Iverson shot too much, but then when you look at the teammate's he had with the Sixers ,he had had to try to carry them nobody else could on that squad. One of the Best ! One Helluva an Athlete. Awesome !

Thank you. I always have to tell haters who never watched him that Iverson shot 46% when he finally had another scorer on his team. Don’t just read the stat sheet, WATCH THE GAME

Iverson overrated? GTFO to those who said this

I'm far from an expert on basketball, but Iverson for me is one of those rare players who you can see is just instantly special when you watch him. What a talent.

Iverson perfected the crossover and changed the whole game of ball handling!!!! Unstoppable

He was amazing! I watched him many many times ! He was on his own world!

I’ve never been more sure of a channels future success as I am of this one. this channel will blow up eventually if not soon. Keep it up man, your content is professional, informative, refreshing, and high quality.

I love this man...my guy...pound for pound greatest ball player.

Best ever, yea I said it. He didnt have the height, he didnt the physicality, definitely didnt have help, and he never cried about it. Never stopped him. Absolute soldier.

My hero as a kid! I knew he was super special.. I now realize he was everything and more!

Wow the first video I watched and didn't feel like the youtuber was being biased thanks man makes me appreciate AI even more

AI was amazing. A once in a lifetime player. He carried the 76ers during his playing days. The best little man to ever play the game!!

This whole video is amazing cause it tells u how good he was and people dont think he good juss cause he never won a ring...it doesnt matter about that it matter what impact u had in the game and what legacy u leave behind and that's what ai did it's not always about how many rings u win it's about the love of basketball

This man is a LEGEND 🐐 there’s nothing more to say PERIOD.

Iverson put it on the line every night. I was lucky enough to see him play in his prime. He truly would adapt to any era and would have scored 30+ in today’s age.

It goes without saying: Pound for pound, he is the GOAT !!!!!

AI's low fg% is caused by the fact that he had to carry his team on offense, during the dead ball era, so he took all the tough shots with no spacing, and top bigmen and power forwards, today he could easily average 47%fg with all the spacing. In fact AI carried his team on offense cuz 76ers were a defensive team, they will beat you on D, while AI had to Carry on offense, that's context.

Iverson is THE best pound 4 pound basketball player of all time.

The best 6 feet point guard and shooting guard I ever seen I took his cross over when I was a kid and I broke a lot of ankles with a jump shot Allen Iverson is a freak of nature 💪🏽.

He was a once in a lifetime talent.. Its a tragedy the 76ers never gave that man a decent enough team to win a ring, he deserved it more than anyone of his time..

Even the late great Kobe Bryant measured himself playing against A.I. he said he was his toughest rival throughout his career. The Answer is probably pound for pound the best player we've ever seen... that's how good he really was.

AI’s fg% wasn’t relevant because the offence was literally based around him getting a shot. The idea was to get him the ball because he’ll either make it or draw defenders trying and everyone else cleaned up or took the pass off a double team. He had so many hockey style assists where he drove the lane and drew shot blockers.

I already knew he was a beast, I remember the days when i only played AI on ps2 basketball games... The good ol' day

What I like about Iverson is that he understood the thing that allows you to play in any era as an all time great: Slashing and running.

He put it all on the line every night definitely an all time great.

This dude wasn’t even 6 foot and he was doing this

Was is this even a question, well done great vid

He was the best to me and I put as nbr 1. He deserves the title “THE ANSWER”

Just want to add that I really enjoyed the Iverson highlights. God, he was so fun to watch. Such a unique talent.

Arguably one of the greatest point guards of all time. As to whether or not he could play today, absolutely.

Damn! You’re on point man! I believe we are of the same age as I can totally relate to all of the history bites you mentioned. I definitely think he’s definitely the best 2-guard in history! If course I am biased! Haha He’s simply my 2nd most favorite NBA player of all time. Just next to Vince Carter!

Awesome video about an amazing talent. I would even argue that he is ahead of Dwade were it not for his lack of rings. But as far as talent goes iverson is up there with Jordan, Kobe, Wade.

He is the best ball handler of all time for all I know he crossed the goat

Best part about AI is his moves were simple and crazy effective. I literally only modeled his game. Mastering jumpers off the dribble and just a few pull back moves and hesitations. As a 5’9 kid with a lot of lateral quickness, his move set helps me consistently compete and bust people’s ass when I go hoop with people without having to be 6’3 and driving.

I love the information you put forth, and how you contextualize A.I........one of my all time favorites!!!!!

great player... my idol Allen Iverson...

The late 90’s early 2000’s was the greatest defensive era of the NBA. All guards field goal percentages were down. AI is the 3rd best two guard in my opinion

Ai got robbed of a great ending by media they black balled him

Been a Lakers fan my whole life -- growing up in 70s and early 80s in LA. But I couldn't agree more with this analysis. I got to watch Iverson a lot after I moved to the east coast and and he's an all time great at the point or at the shooting guard. Easily the most unstoppable player not named Wilt, Kareem, or Shaq.

Great video thanks so much ...my man (AI) was a beast even Kobe (rest in peace) said that Iverson was one of the person that make him a better basketball player... The high competitive level those two had back in the day made him came up with a big part of the Mamba mentality...thanks again and keep up the great Job...big fan here ... Peace

I honestly think he's ahead of wade

The greatest point in talking about A.I. Is he came from the Era where fans, media, scouts, and sports analyst did not talk about FG% it was all about scoring and defense we need to clarify that part of history to the new. FG % Era was born during Lebron James reign to hype his status but Michael Jordan without FG% Era still has a higher rating we didn't talk about shooting over 50% during Kobe Shaq reign or else those players then would've worked on it just like talking about the evolution of shooting three's players didn't care about that because coaches taught to shoot closer to the basket. Rules changes today also increase players today FG% inflation from Jordan Reign to Kobe reign era that had stiff defensive teams. Lastly FG% should only be accounted for the 4th quarter and overtime quarters because the game is near end and that's where you seperate the good players from great players what good is shooting 70% for 3 quarters and be 0 for 8 in the 4th quarter or ot and lose the game!

Great video though I disagree that D. Wade is better than AI.

A I was unbelievably talented. He carried the Sixers for years . One of the best guards of all time. He played when the game was very physical and took beatings game after game. At 6’ and probably 150 lbs at best.Great handles and a great finisher at the rim. He couldn’t be stopped. He was fun to watch. The man was a Warrior ... Anyone who doesn’t realize A I was Great, don’t know the game.

My Uncle's favorite player, I remember my uncle telling me to sit down with him and watch the "little guy" take over the game. I was about 14 at the time and its what got me watching the nba religiously. Although he will never be my favorite player, AI hold a special place in my heart. RIp to my uncle, I will forever cherish those days watching the nba alongside him.

You can't compare Iverson's TS% against guys from the pre-three-pointer era. TS% highly rewards made threes, and obviously those guys never had threes to take.

MJ the 🐐 but pound for pound AI the best to ever do it. “We should all be fortunate Allen Iverson wasn’t 6’5” “ - Kobe Bryant

Allen Iverson should have been on the top 50 list he was a blue collar player.

AI is my second favorite Sixers of all time behind the Dr. He had the heart of a lion and gave you everything on the court. Excellent video pointing out that he had no other scoring threats and that is why his shooting percentage was lower.

For the first 10 years in his career, A I was top dog. During That stretch he was simply unstoppable For someone only 6 foot and not much weight at all in 160lbs if that, it’s amazing how long he lasted and was on top

One of the Best pound for pound Scorers in his era

Ty for this. I really used to under-credit him until now.

As far as the scoring percentage it’s simple. He had nobody to pass to while being the best player on the team. The shots he was taking were all tough shots. And he played whole games while getting massacred physically every game.

As a 90s kid from Greece i can tell you that in early 20s all kids that played basketball wanted to be like iverson when you walked on a court you would not see kobe jerseys or shaq or tmac you would see iverson jerseys . So when kids from a country that far way that didnt even had nba on television knew and admired iverson that shows how he influnced a generation and how great he was

These " how good was ________ really?" has been great! keep them comingggg