Allen Iverson is right up there with the likes of Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing, as one of the greatest NBA players to never win a Championship. While a Championship is surely a transformative asset in any player’s legacy, Iverson’s impact in the NBA transcended individual accolades and collective glory. The 2001 NBA MVP revolutionized the game in a lot of different ways, paving the way for a better future for posterity. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and his son Shareef recently showed some appreciation to the ‘living legend’ for his contributions to the game we all love.
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A prime Shaq and Kobe duo stood like a mountain in the way of Allen Iverson and his first NBA Championship. The then Philadelphia 76ers star led his team to the NBA Finals in 2001 after just securing the league MVP. However, the mighty Lakers awaited him and his team in what was a pretty lopsided contest. Iverson scored a postseason-high 48 points to give Philly a decent headstart in the series with a six-point victory in Game 1.
However, the Shaq and Kobe-led Lakers steamrolled the Sixers after that, securing their second Championship in a row. Iverson had to sacrifice his dream of winning a ring despite averaging 32.9 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 22 playoff games that year.
Shaq and Shareef O’Neal show some love to Allen Iverson
Iverson paired his iconic Sports Illustrated photograph from 2001, holding a bouquet of roses in his hand while reclining back in his chair shirtless, with that of a ripped image of Shaquille O’Neal, in a recent Instagram post. The 11-time NBA All-Star wrote in the caption of the post, showering Shaq with adulations, “The only reason I don’t have a ring lol #GreatestBigManEVER.”
Shareef shows love to AI in his comment section pic.twitter.com/3FxyWu8dA7
— tragicpatek (@tragicpatek) August 5, 2023
It was pretty evident that an esteemed rival like AI dubbing him the greatest big man ever was humbling for Shaq. He soon responded in the comments, “u don’t need one[NBA Championship ring] you one of the greatest and a hall of famer first ballot no questions asked.”
Meanwhile, Shaq’s son and NBA G-League Ignite star Shareef O’Neal also chimed in to recognize Iverson’s legacy in the NBA. The 23-year-old wrote in the comments, “You still a living legend!! Every hooper in the world want a cross over like you 🤝🤝changed the game forever.”
There’s no denying that AI’s crossover was one of the most legendary NBA moves in history. The shifty guard immortalized his signature move by famously crossing over Michael Jordan. The crossover is still regarded as one of the most memorable NBA highlights ever.
AI changed the league’s culture
Iverson’s impact transcended that of his exploits on the hardwood. In other words, he imported the contemporary hip-hop culture to basketball through his fashion and accessories.
This immediately brought him into conflict with the NBA management. However, the league would slowly be more lenient on the players’ choices to wear whatever they want off the court. AI definitely paved the way for modern NBA players to enjoy that freedom of expression.
