Allen Iverson, Memphis Terminate Contract: Gone After Three Games

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Allen Iverson experiment with the Memphis Grizzlies is over.

Memphis announced Monday that the team has ended its one-year contract with the 10-time All-Star and former league MVP in what it called a mutual agreement. Iverson began an indefinite leave of absence on Nov. 7 to deal with a personal issue after playing only three games with the Grizzlies, all in California.

"Because of personal matters that forced him to leave the team on November 7, Allen will step away from the game at this time, allowing him to focus on those matters," general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. "As a result, we will be ending our contractual agreement with Allen, which will allow both parties to move forward. We wish Allen the best."

The Grizzlies will waive Iverson but the team had not done that as of Monday night.

Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press on his cell phone. Iverson, who announced he was headed to Memphis on his Twitter account, hasn't posted any updates there since Nov. 2 when he played his first game with the Grizzlies.

Memphis owner Michael Heisley told the AP last week he would be happy to trade Iverson to another team if a better deal came along.

Few NBA teams had shown interest in the 34-year-old guard before Memphis signed him to a one-year, incentive-laden contract on Sept. 10. Memphis fans greeted the biggest star ever to play for the Grizzlies with a big crowd for his introductory news conference and eagerly bought up his No. 3 jersey, though he wound up never playing a game on the team's home court.

Iverson didn't help himself much during his short stint with his fourth NBA team. He missed the preseason with a partially torn left hamstring and didn't debut with the Grizzlies until Nov. 2 at Sacramento.

Immediately, Iverson began talking about his distaste for coming off the bench and being on a rebuilding team filled with youth from Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo to recent draft picks Hasheem Thabeet and DeMarre Carroll.

The four-time NBA scoring champ became the 16th player in league history to score 24,000 points in his career in his second game against Golden State. He played against the Lakers in Los Angeles, where he also met with Heisley before being given permission to take an indefinite leave.

But the Grizzlies got tired of waiting for Iverson to decide what to do next.

They signed point guard Jamaal Tinsley on Saturday for some much-needed help with the Grizzlies struggling at 2-8 this season.

Comments

[westreal]

Too bad. He was one of my favorite players

[David Mtshali]

Iverson was the man when he came into the NBA,

Just not sure what happened, did the corporate machine eat up his soul?

Despite not winning a title yet... he's still an amazing player no doubts about that,
but he hasn't won a title. I still remember him commenting on Charles Barkley
not wining a tile in his career and he doesn't want end his career in such a fashion.
It might be be that he will leave his career not wining a ring.
He would have to eat up his own words now.

Despite that all that I hope he delivers that title,

Good luck to the man.

[JeffO62]

He's been a warrior since coming into the league, but he'll never understand the value of being a member of a team. We here in Philly saw this guy pour his heart out on the floor every game he played, but in the end he never made anyone better...it was and still is only about him. IMO AI will be be bankrupt within 3 years, he just doesn't get it.

[talkingdog]

He's always gonna be a thug!

He'll get into trouble,...

[D Right One]

I think the use of "thug" is a bit overused. 50 cent used to be a thug on the street. Hockey players that are the enforcers on the ice are thugs. AI, to me, is a hard working guy. More so that most pro players in any sport. Thug doesn't fit him. Diva is more like it.

[ComicBooksandPolitics]

I've never been a huge A.I. fan, but I must admit, I think he still has 5-7 good productive years left in him if he can acquire two new skills...... Passing and Humility. If not, he's washed up.

[sloreader]

He'd need some practice and we all know how he feels about practice... don't we?

[firelord5000]

"The Answer" has unfortunately left us with far too many questions.

The greatest small man in basketball, a true game changer, the man who forced NBA to changes rules because of his amazing cross over. I will remember AI as the guy who used to drop a 50 on you without an afterthought, a one man wrecking crew that carried bunch of NBA rejects to the finals, and stole a game against arguably the most stacked team (Lakers) in NBA for past 2 decades.

I do hope that AI retires if he can't get on a championship team this year, aka if its not Spurs/Lake­rs/Celtics­, its time to walk away.

[Scottay]

Dear Mr. Iverson,

You're washed up. Thanks for playing. Enjoy retirement.

Thanks.

[Big0725]

As said by a never-was-­and-never-­will-be.

[amyers]

This is likely an inglorious end to a great career.

[PepeLepew]

How did AI think he was going to be happy in Memphis...?

[firelord5000]

I think that is what most of us are wondering about, what his expectations were, and what Memphis's expectations were.

[AngusC]

AI, I love you but it is time to go.
It is over...

[GovernmentBubble]

He was so nasty in his prime. It's a shame he never got a ring.

[JMBrodie]

I guess he really didn't want to practice.

[AfroLatina21]

What has happened to Allen Iverson...smh

I think it's time for him to retire, it doesn't seem there are any teams interested in him and he's has way too many injuries lately...my, my, how the mighty have fallen.

[JMBrodie]

Seems he is done.

[Big0725]

It's called age sweetie. Kinda like those crow's feet you're probably noticing lately.

[AfroLatina21]

Lame...sarcastic comment...and of course you can't comprehend what I was writing.

I wasn't specifically talking about his age...i.d.iot

[THE JEDI 69]

what a head case..maybe he needs to go back to living in the hood in Norfolk....stop hanging around with garbage....

[kennyboy757]

First of all Iverson is my part of town Hampton Va and he didn't come from the hood. Though he's made mistakes in his past he has learned and grown from them. Before you start judging him, he has accomplished more in his than you can ever dream. A**hole!

[kennyboy757]

*from

[Ty LaRue]

It's time for retire, him and Shaq

[sloreader]

There's no A-eye in NBA!