Allen Iverson is contemplating retirement if he doesn't rejoin the Grizzlies, according to a source with knowledge of the veteran guard's situation.
Julianna Hunter/Special to The Commercial Appeal
Allen Iverson has yet to play a game at home with the Griz, and now is so upset at coming off the bench he might retire, according to a source.
Iverson left the team Saturday after receiving permission from Griz owner Michael Heisley to deal with a personal matter. The stress associated with a family issue plus Iverson's frustration over playing a reserve role might spell the end of his 14-year NBA career, according to the source.
Heisley said he's not been given any indication that Iverson might be leaning towards retirement, and still is holding out hope that the 10-time All-Star will return to Memphis.
"I just think if he was going to retire, he'd tell me first," Heisley said. "I expect him to come back. If he does retire, I'll be tremendously disappointed. I feel bad because I don't think that's the way he should go out."
Iverson, who traveled from Los Angeles to his Atlanta home over the weekend, was granted an indefinite leave of absence. He has not asked to be traded or waived.
The Griz signed Iverson in the offseason to a one-year, $3.1 million contract, and can't trade him until Dec. 15.
Although Iverson is said to be wavering about his future, there are people in his camp trying to convince him to continue with the Griz.
Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, did not return phone messages left Sunday.
A source close to Iverson confirmed the 34-year-old is indeed attending to a personal issue, and his discomfort with the Grizzlies also factored into the abrupt separation.
Iverson appeared in three games since returning from a hamstring injury and played off the bench each time. He averaged 12.3 points, 3.7 assists and 22.3 minutes, and rarely saw action near the end of games.
Iverson's complaints ranged from not starting to what he perceived as limited playing time and a lack of communication with Griz coach Lionel Hollins.
Iverson acknowledged before leaving the Griz that he'd become a distraction. Iverson also bristled at the notion of his needing to fit in.
"I'm not trying to figure out how to contribute to no team," Iverson told the Associated Press last Friday before the Griz lost to the L.A. Lakers. "I contribute to a team by just playing. That's it. ... I don't have to figure it out. Obviously, they signed me for a reason. They've been watching me play this game for 13 years, and they know what I do on the basketball court, so I don't have to figure out how I'm going to play or anything like that. I just go out and play basketball."
The Grizzlies have never told Iverson that his backup role was permanent.
Hollins deflected questions regarding Iverson's comments to the media all of last week.
"I understand star power, and that's to be expected," Hollins said last Saturday before the Griz lost to the Los Angeles Clippers. "I wouldn't mind even talking about Allen's star power if it was about the game and his performance during the game, versus what Allen has said and what he will or won't do."
The idea of Iverson retiring isn't farfetched given the circumstances. From a basketball standpoint, Iverson also had difficulty accepting a reserve role with the Detroit Pistons last season.
Iverson said then he'd rather retire than come off the bench.
"I hope he doesn't retire," Heisley said. "I really hope he comes back and plays for us. He's still got a lot of game left."
This would suck. I would hate to see him go out like this but dude's gotta accept that he ain't what he used to be.
11/9/2009 12:31 PM
