Allen Iverson, who played in Turkey last season, is telling anyone who will listen that he wants back in the NBA. The 11-time All-Star says he won’t raise the same playing time gripes that he did in Detroit and then Memphis, where he declared that he was “not a reserve basketball player.” Here’s Iverson speaking to Dei Lynam at CSNPhilly.com:

“I just want to do whatever an organization wants me to do,” Iverson said. “Everybody made a big thing about me not wanting to come off the bench, but I said that at that point because it never happened to me in my life and it was something new to me, and obviously I didn’t know how to handle it. But to be back on the biggest stage is my whole thing and I feel like I have a couple more years left in my career and I want to play. I sat through and watched the
whole season and it was tough for me. Now I just try to do what I have to do to be physically and mentally able to get back on the stage.”

We’ve heard this before from Iverson. The temptation is to scoff at him in the same way you do that person in your life who tells you for the 10th time that he’ll never do the same bad thing he always does — only this time he means it.

But here’s the thing: There’s no reason that Iverson, who turned 36 last month, can’t make an NBA roster, provided he really is willing to accept a bench role and the veteran’s minimum salary. It sounds dumb to be this blunt, but there are plenty of “worse” players taking up roster spot Nos. 10-15 around the league.

Photo Gallery: Rare pictures of Allen Iverson

Iverson’s 2009-10 season was a personal and professional disaster, but even in those 25 games with Philadelphia, he hit an above-average percentage of his long two-point shots, assisted on more than 20 percent of the Sixers’ baskets while he was on the floor and got to the free-throw line at a rate well above average for a guard. Those are interesting numbers, even if Philadelphia’s offense that season scored better with Iverson on the bench — a rarity for the former MVP during his career, though that had at least something to do with the lack of scoring depth on some of his prime 76ers teams.

Papabear wrote:The 11-time All-Star says he won’t raise the same playing time gripes that he did in Detroit and then Memphis, where he declared that he was “not a reserve basketball player.”

It's a shame this gem is so slept on:

I hope he does make it back to Philly again. He should play and end his career with the Sixers.

Childs2Dudley wrote:No thanks.

Papabear Says

Hey this is a business! If he can help us win I would take a chance.Just as soon as he causes trouble I'd cut him. Since he has been low in doe his possie ain't traveling with him. I know that he wish he had all that money back that he was paying his possie just to hang out with him. probably some of them may have more money then Allen.

I need some good guys on Miami to make it ok if they do end up winning. I'll never root for them but make it palatable to some degree!

Bonn1997 wrote:

Nalod wrote:I'd prefer he be in Miami. Adds to the drama. Nice story if they win it all.

I need some good guys on Miami to make it ok if they do end up winning. I'll never root for them but make it palatable to some degree!

It's hard to believe that Allen Iverson might make a team more likeable!

Allan is not marbury, the guy was just thinking his game matched his money.

If the guy has game he'll have options. The guy needed to work on his fundamentals (Practice makes perfect!) to compensate when his gifts aged. Not sure he did this which made his game fall pretty fast. Reminds me of Tiny Archbald, the dude was able to morph his game when a knee injury slowed him down.

crzymdups wrote:

Nalod wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Nalod wrote:I'd prefer he be in Miami. Adds to the drama. Nice story if they win it all.

I need some good guys on Miami to make it ok if they do end up winning. I'll never root for them but make it palatable to some degree!

It's hard to believe that Allen Iverson might make a team more likeable!

Allan is not marbury, the guy was just thinking his game matched his money.

If the guy has game he'll have options. The guy needed to work on his fundamentals (Practice makes perfect!) to compensate when his gifts aged. Not sure he did this which made his game fall pretty fast. Reminds me of Tiny Archbald, the dude was able to morph his game when a knee injury slowed him down.

there were pretty strong rumors that iverson drank a lot and it slowed him down.

Papabear Says

So he will just have to go to AAA meetings, work on his game, and get rid of his possie.

crzymdups wrote:

Nalod wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Nalod wrote:I'd prefer he be in Miami. Adds to the drama. Nice story if they win it all.

I need some good guys on Miami to make it ok if they do end up winning. I'll never root for them but make it palatable to some degree!

It's hard to believe that Allen Iverson might make a team more likeable!

Allan is not marbury, the guy was just thinking his game matched his money.

If the guy has game he'll have options. The guy needed to work on his fundamentals (Practice makes perfect!) to compensate when his gifts aged. Not sure he did this which made his game fall pretty fast. Reminds me of Tiny Archbald, the dude was able to morph his game when a knee injury slowed him down.

there were pretty strong rumors that iverson drank a lot and it slowed him down.

Allen Iverson is in trouble, folks, deep trouble. The combination of alcohol and gambling - and a once-promising career in tatters because of the first two - won't culminate in anything short of disaster if help does not arrive in short order.

If numerous NBA sources are telling the truth - and there's no reason to believe they'd do otherwise in a situation of this magnitude - Iverson will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away.

http://articles.philly.com/2010-03-07/sports/24956781_1_train-wreck-allen-iverson-pat-croce