Allen Iverson is among the greatest players ever to grace the basketball court. The Hall of Fame point guard changed how the NBA adjusted to smaller players and the league’s culture. He revealed his list of Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Shaquille O’Neal as the All-Time starting five.
Allen Iverson was a guest on the podcast The Big Podcast with Shaq. When host Adam Lefkoe asked Iverson about his All-Time starting five, Iverson mentioned those 5. Jordan, James, and O’Neal are understandable for basketball fans. The inclusion of Bryant and Curry completed the list. Surprisingly, Iverson did not consider himself worthy to be on the list.
When Lefkoe said that Iverson’s starting five should include him, Iverson jokingly said he would remove O’Neal from the list. The combination of his five selections would complement each other’s game. The only possible overlap was with Jordan and Bryant. But their inclusion takes care of the defensive shortcomings Stephen Curry might pose. Check out the clip below.
It seems Allen Iverson used a lot of thought in selecting his starting five. It seems he omitted himself from the list, as Iverson was a ball-dominant player. He needed the ball in his hands to score, which defeats the purpose of an All-Time starting five.
Allen Iverson had a Hall of Fame career and a culture-changing legacy
Allen Iverson was the first overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft for the Philadelphia 76ers. Since coming into the league as a diminutive point guard, Iverson torched the opposition. His elite-level scoring and ability to create space and finish at the basket were second to none. The former league MVP was a 7-time All-NBA selection.
Iverson is credited with changing the culture in the NBA. Before Iverson entered the league, players wore suits, and tattoos were seen as unclassy. He brought cornrow hairstyles, rap music, and non-ceremonial tattoos into the league. His game-day outfits and off-the-court fashion caught on with the rest of the league.
Allen Iverson is known for being one of the best ever to play the game. He changed the game of basketball, which is now considered the new normal. But he does not hold himself in his own All-Time Starting Five.
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