SUMMARY
- Allen Iverson had several rivalries during his time in the NBA especially against legends of the game.
- He claimed Stephon Marbury and Steven Nash were two athletes he greatly feared playing against.
Allen Iverson was one of the most feared athletes of the late 90s and early 2000s. The point guard was someone the entire league feared guarding at one point. He was extremely crafty and agile due to his height. Not everybody could figure out how to stop the guard from wreaking havoc on his opponents. Not only was Iverson one of the most flashy guards in the NBA, but he was an outstanding scorer of the ball as well.
The Legend, Allen Iverson! 🏀🏆#BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/wX1sTVuESN
— 247 Live Culture (@247LC) February 23, 2024
Nicknamed “The Answer”, he always knew how to respond to plays on the court and achieve complete dominance. Unfortunately, Iverson’s time in the league was fairly short. He competed in the NBA for 14 seasons playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 26.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. Had he played any longer or won championships, he would’ve easily become one of the GOATs just like Michael Jordan or LeBron James.
Allen Iverson claimed he was fearful of Stephon Marbury and Steve Nash
By the time Allen Iverson came into the league, there were a few individuals who were prominent at the point guard position. During an appearance on Shaquille O’Neal’s podcast, Iverson claimed that he feared Stephon Marbury and Steve Nash the most. Both players were well known for their ability to facilitate and create plays. Additionally, Marbury possessed a high offensive IQ as well. He was strong for a 6’2” footguard and often.
February 21, 2001: This sequence from New Jersey’s Stephon Marbury.
Marbury finished with 35 PTS (10-19 FG/4-7 3P)/14 AST and Keith Van Horn added 28 PTS in the Nets’ 113-111 win over the Raptors. Vince Carter had a game-high 39 PTS for Toronto. pic.twitter.com/mmEwfYZmcA
— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) February 21, 2024
“Stephon was just so strong, powerful, and fast. Like, Steph tried to bully me, man,” Iverson told O’Neal. As for Nash, Iverson claims he was simply a smart player. Nash knew how to counterplay and get shots up. The Phoenix Suns legend also had a great capacity to shoot from beyond the three-point arc. These were individuals that gave Iverson trouble on the floor throughout his career.
Allen Iverson recalls his welcome to the NBA moment
Every rookie who comes into the league experiences a “Welcome to the NBA” moment delivered by veterans like Nash and Marbury. However, Allen Iverson was given a reality check from Kevin Johnson, a Suns legend just like Nash. Iverson told Shaq, “I remember my first game [against Johnson], I was the same speed, fast like him all that. But he had that [mentality]. I call it the John Stockton mentality. You know, you might not be so athletic, but [he] would slow it [the game] down.”
“KJ was just back-dooring me, he was just destroying me. Cause he was just outsmarting me. And that was the first time I got destroyed in my life… I was literally crying,” said Iverson. During that game, Johnson scored 36 points along with 8 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. This isn’t the first time Iverson has admitted to getting demolished by the veteran either. However, that game changed Iverson’s life and he eventually dominated the floor.