With the NBA season around the corner for the Philadelphia 76ers, it is time for fans to stop worrying about the team trading Andre Iguodala. At this point, it doesn’t seem likely to happen unless the season turns out to be a disaster and the 76ers unload him at the trade deadline. I don’t see that happening so therefore I don’t see the team trading Iguodala. As a 76ers fan, I can live with that for now. However, the pressure will be on Iguodala to continue his upward swing in the 2011-12 season. If Iguodala can do that, the 76ers will go places.

According to reports out of training camp, Iguodala is looking very good. He is healthy and happy. That is a good combination for a guy that can lead this team without being a franchise player. Part of the reason that 76ers fans were so against Iguodala over the past few years was that he thought of himself as a superstar. His attitude suggested he was an Allen Iverson or a LeBron James. It seemed like he thought he could carry this team by himself. Of course, we all know that Iguodala is not that player. He is a talented player, but not a franchise player.

In one year under Dog Collins, it felt like Iguodala realized that. Watching him last season was more than refreshing. He became the team leader he could be without trying to do everything. As a result, Iguodala did a nice job of facilitating the offense and making things happen. He could be even better in that role this season. I’m excited to hear that he looks good in training camp. I just hope his attitude remains improved as well.

Iguodala is not the franchise player, but the fate of the 76ers will be largely tied to how he plays. This is a mostly young team that will rely on his veteran presence. Iguodala is the kind of player that can make the younger guys play better basketball. His commitment to defense and passing is a lot better and that will translate to more wins. If he can stay healthy, Iguodala could be an All-Star this season. Since he is staying put, it is time for fans to get behind the new version of Iguodala. I’m willing to forgive the past if it means he stays the course in the future.

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Allen Iverson’s(notes) last turn in the NBA was a disastrous run with both the Memphis Grizzlies and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2009-10 season. The Grizzlies dumped him because he wasn’t suited to blend into a team concept, and later that year Iverson dumped the 76ers with a few weeks in the season amongst myriad rumors of personal and financial problems. AI has bounced from gig to gig since then, and was hoping to possibly put together a charity game in Las Vegas over the upcoming weekend ostensibly featuring various NBA stars.

The problem is that we haven’t heard a whiff about stars actually committing to Iverson’s charity game. And, for reasons Iverson’s camp is chalking up to the ongoing and somewhat positive turn the NBA lockout negotiations have taken, AI’s contest has been postponed until the first week of January. Jan. 6 and 7, if all goes well.

Or, if all goes terribly.

Because no NBA players, stars or otherwise, are going to play in a charity game in the first week of January if there’s a season going. And if the dates sound familiar, you’ll recall that Jan. 5 was the cut-off date for a truncated season back during the 1998-99 season.

That is to say, if there’s any agreement between the NBA and its players between later this week and Jan. 5, then Iverson’s game is a no-go. And even if the nuclear winter becomes a reality, and the season is canceled, what NBA players are going to want to jet to Nevada to play in an exhibition game a day after learning that they’d be without paychecks for an entire season?

Not to say that the players aren’t being charitable, but the enervating reality of a lost season would be too much to overcome on a day’s notice.

It sounds like Allen is hedging his bets, no Vegas pun intended. In his defense, this is the smartest way to avoid embarrassment regarding this.

(There was going to be a part where I brought up the idea of AI getting his act together long enough to attempt one last comeback as a smart scorer off of a good team’s bench; but even this appalling optimist can’t muster that idea without deleting the entire thought.)

Related: Allen Iverson, Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers, NBA lockout

Allen Iverson’s(notes) last turn in the NBA was a disastrous run with both the Memphis Grizzlies and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2009-10 season. The Grizzlies dumped him because he wasn’t suited to blend into a team concept, and later that year Iverson dumped the 76ers with a few weeks in the season amongst myriad rumors of personal and financial problems. AI has bounced from gig to gig since then, and was hoping to possibly put together a charity game in Las Vegas over the upcoming weekend ostensibly featuring various NBA stars.

The problem is that we haven’t heard a whiff about stars actually committing to Iverson’s charity game. And, for reasons Iverson’s camp is chalking up to the ongoing and somewhat positive turn the NBA lockout negotiations have taken, AI’s contest has been postponed until the first week of January. Jan. 6 and 7, if all goes well.

Or, if all goes terribly.

Because no NBA players, stars or otherwise, are going to play in a charity game in the first week of January if there’s a season going. And if the dates sound familiar, you’ll recall that Jan. 5 was the cut-off date for a truncated season back during the 1998-99 season.

That is to say, if there’s any agreement between the NBA and its players between later this week and Jan. 5, then Iverson’s game is a no-go. And even if the nuclear winter becomes a reality, and the season is canceled, what NBA players are going to want to jet to Nevada to play in an exhibition game a day after learning that they’d be without paychecks for an entire season?

Not to say that the players aren’t being charitable, but the enervating reality of a lost season would be too much to overcome on a day’s notice.

It sounds like Allen is hedging his bets, no Vegas pun intended. In his defense, this is the smartest way to avoid embarrassment regarding this.

(There was going to be a part where I brought up the idea of AI getting his act together long enough to attempt one last comeback as a smart scorer off of a good team’s bench; but even this appalling optimist can’t muster that idea without deleting the entire thought.)

Related: Allen Iverson, Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers, NBA lockout

By Jay_King

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Oct 27, 2011 – Allen Iverson told Yahoo! Sports he’s not ruling any teams out as he attempts an NBA comeback.

“I’ll play for anybody,” Iverson told Yahoo! Sports.  

Iverson last played in the NBA during the 2009-10 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 13.9 points and 4.1 assists per game in 25 games with Philadelphia, but left the team due to personal issues and did not return.

The 36-year old Iverson now says he was too distracted by his daughter’s health issues and a divorce from his wife to focus on basketball. Now, the family issues have been resolved and Iverson believes he is ready to put forth the attention necessary to excel again on the court.

“That wasn’t me at all,” Iverson said. “Obviously, I was dealing with the situation with my daughter and going through a divorce, and I wasn’t there mentally. In my career those last couple years were so hard for me because I wasn’t there. Mentally, I wasn’t there.

“During those 48 minutes on the basketball court, all I [ever] cared about was that time right there. Nothing else distracted me. But at times, I felt myself standing on the court just thinking about my daughter, thinking about the situation with me and my wife. I wasn’t giving [the teams] everything I had mentally.”

Iverson is hosting a charity basketball event this weekend and hopes an NBA team takes notice of his skills.

“Obviously, they might have some issues thinking I don’t want to help a team in a certain capacity,” Iverson said. “But that’s over with. All that was going on through an emotional time. It cost me to not play. I’m just willing to help any squad in any capacity.

“Hopefully, one squad will believe in me and we will go from there. That would be a lot better than having to go overseas.”

– For more 76ers coverage, visit our team page, or our blog Liberty Ballers. 

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Read More: sixers sale, 76ers sale, joshua harris, Philadelphia 76ers

The NBA announced early Tuesday that its owners had unanimously approved the sale of the Philadelphia 76ers to New York-based investor Joshua Harris. Word that Harris had bid to purchase the Sixers from Comcast-Spectator broke last spring, with a deal worth a reported $280 million being reached in July.

The sale approval comes in a quite odd time for the league, as the NBA lockout has been underway for 109 days. Another team, the Atlanta Hawks, is reportedly working through the sale process, albeit on a different timeline than the Sixers. Comcast’s sale of the Sixers represents a 57 percent return on an initial investment made in 1996. The Sixers made one NBA Finals trip during that span, in Allen Iverson’s heyday.

Harris has remained out of the public eye up until now, though a press conference is expected soon. Harris’ group has said it will remain tenants of the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia (owned by Comcast-Spectator) and will remain a partner of Comcast Sports Philly, its local broadcaster.