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Dwyane Wade Shares Emotional Tribute To Allen Iverson Upon Receiving Hall Of Fame Jacket

August 12, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Dwyane Wade has always been a player who has let his basketball speak for itself. A well-regarded figure both on and off the court, Wade truly left his mark on the NBA. During a 16-year career, Wade was a three-time champion, and 13-time All-Star. Wade is also 32nd on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, with 23,165 career points. He is perhaps best remembered for his role in the “Big Three” alongside Chris Bosh and Lebron James. Wade was seen as a no-doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer upon his retirement. However, Wade remained active in basketball following his retirement, buying a minority share in the Utah Jazz in 2021. Wade went as far as to call then-Jazz star Donovan Mitchell “Dwyane Wade 2.0”.

Wade officially became a first-ballot Hall of Famer earlier this year. He joins one of the most stacked Hall of Fame classes of all time. Wade enters the Hall alongside legends such as Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, and Becky Hammon. Other inductees included the late Jim Valvano and the 1976 Women’s Olympic Basketball Team. Wade, along with other inductees, will officially be enshrined in the Hall later today (August 12). However, Wade has already received one of the customary recognitions.

Wade Receives His Orange Jacket

In a ceremony held on August 11, Wade was given his official Hall of Fame orange jacket. His jacket was presented by one of Wade’s heroes, fellow NBA icon Allen Iverson. “It means everything to me,” Wade told PEOPLE. “I wear the number three jersey because of Allen Iverson and just have so much respect for that man. No one has been able to use [Iverson] yet, and that I’m the first one to be able to say Allen Iverson has presented me into the Hall of Fame…that right there, if you tell 17-year-old Dwyane that, I wouldn’t believe you.”

Initially, Wade wanted his longtime Miami Heat co-star Udonis Haslem to present him. However, your presenter must be an existing Hall of Famer and Haslem only announced his retirement this offseason. “So, when I started thinking about guys that are Hall-of-Famers, guys that I looked up to, right away three names came to mind,” Wade says. “It’s Michael Jordan, it’s Kobe Bryant, and it’s Allen Iverson. Obviously, my brother Kobe couldn’t be in that seat, couldn’t be in one of those chairs to present me in.” Eventually, Wade settled on the Sixers legend.

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Allen Iverson Speaks On “Unique” Bond With The City Of Philadelphia

August 2, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Allen Iverson is a Philadelphia legend. After two seasons at the University of Georgetown, including a run to the Elite Eight in 1996, Iverson declared for the NBA Draft. He went first overall to the Sixers, who were coming off an 18-64 season. With their new superstar, the Sixers improved year-on-year until they returned to the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade in the 1998/99 season. Two seasons later and they were in the NBA Finals, with Iverson winning MVP. It was the closest the Sixers got to an NBA title with Iverson on the roster.

However, a lack of consistent success frustrated Iverson, and in December 2006, he was sent to the Nuggets in a blockbuster midseason trade. However, Iverson only lasted 23 months in Denver, being dealt to the Pistons in 2008. After a brief stint in Memphis in 2009, Iverson rejoined the Sixers. However, he was forced to step away from the team in 2010 due to his daughter’s health. After playing ten games in Turkey in late 2010, Iverson officially retired. However, despite their rocky relationship while he was there, it’s clear that Iverson still loves the city that drafted him.

Allen Iverson Speaks On Special Bond With Philly

“I became a man in Philadelphia. I was 21 years old when I got there…As far as an athlete and a fanbase, there’s no other relationship like mine with the people in Philadelphia,” Iverson told former Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin while attending the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago. Furthermore, Iverson said he enjoys the sports memorabilia collection scene. According to Iverson, he views the memorabilia scene as fans at their most excited and most grateful to meet players.

However, Iverson’s relationship could have been very different if not for backup Sixers center Matt Grieger. In the summer of 2000, the Sixers were part of a massive trade. Some sources report it as six teams and 24 players. Meanwhile, other sources report it as four teams and 12 players. Regardless of how big the trade was, Iverson was on the edge of being dealt to the Pistons before Grieger refused to waive his $1.2 million trade kicker. Who knows how that would have affected the NBA and more importantly, Iverson’s relationship with Philadelphia.

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Allen Iverson Divulges On Why He Takes LeBron Over Michael Jordan

February 21, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Allen Iverson is someone who got to play against some of the GOATs of basketball. Overall, Iverson is held in high esteem by a lot of fans and players. Although he may not be a GOAT, there are people who want his opinion on the Michael Jordan Vs. LeBron James debate. At this point, the debate is extremely tired, however, it continues to rage on. This is especially true now that LeBron has eclipsed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time scoring record.

During All-Star weekend, Iverson got to be part of some of the festivities. As someone who has played against both LeBron and MJ, some reporters were wondering how Iverson feels about these two. For instance, Marc J. Spears of Andscape asked Iverson directly who he would take between the two. For Iverson, it was a truly tough call. However, he opted to go with LeBron for the following reason.

Allen Iverson Speaks

Allen Iverson attends The Players’ Tribune + Heir Jordan Host Players’ Night Out At The Royale Party at Bounce Sporting Club in Chicago on February 13, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Schear/Getty Images for Players’ Tribune)

“LeBron, I think, to me is the best overall basketball player that we’ll ever see,” Iverson said. “If you look in the dictionary and look up basketball player, there’ll be a picture of LeBron. But for me it’s so different because Mike was everything to me. He gave me the vision. He made me want to play basketball. He’s my everything. I wanted to actually be like him, like the commercial, ‘Be like Mike,’ I really wanted to be him. I’m still starstruck every time I see him. I’m still nervous every time. Because he’s Mike to me. He’s my guy. So there’ll never be no one at the top of my list besides Mike. But LeBron is just everything that you want in a basketball player. He’s a total package. He’s God’s gift to the basketball world.”

You can’t help but respect what Iverson has to say on this topic. James and Jordan are two legends of the game, and there is no denying that. Until the end of time, the GOAT debate will be ongoing. In the future, it will be interesting to see if anyone can capture the attention that LeBron and MJ once did. Give us your thoughts on Iverson’s take, down in the comments below.

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Allen Iverson Recalls Shopping With Diddy & Biggie

January 11, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Allen Iverson discussed his style with GQ Sports for the outlet’s inaugural Style Hall of Fame issue, recalling a time he went jewelry shopping with Diddy and The Notorious B.I.G.

When asked about his personal style, the legendary NBA star explained, “It was built over time. I know it had a lot to do with the dudes that I grew up with. All throughout my life—and it still goes on today—we compete with dressing. Still.”

SHANGHAI, CHINA – NOVEMBER 10: American former basketball player Allen Iverson receives interview during rehearsal for 2018 Double 11 Global Shopping Festival on November 10, 2018 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images)

Later in the interview, he recalled getting his first NBA paycheck.

“I remember my teammates [at Georgetown] were telling me, ‘When you get your league money, maybe you gone get some jewelry like Pac got,’” he told the outlet.

He continued: “Pac had the Rolex and all that. Puff was another muhfucka I admired. The swag, how cool he was, the way he is and how big he got. We was using the same jeweler, Manny the Jeweler. I went with him and Big. We in there, getting whatever. But I’m using checks. I just remember Big using goddamn cash. Big-ass knots, know what I mean? He’s standing, he got on jean shorts, and you can see the big-ass muhfuckin’ knots in his goddamn pants. Pac was getting his stuff from Manny’s too. I actually bought the same ring that Pac had bought at Manny’s. And I remember seeing Puff one time after that, and he was like, ‘Whatchu doin’ with all my chains on?’ I’m like, ‘Now I can get in there and get busy like you can.’”

He also mentioned looking up to the members of Wu-Tang Clan.

Iverson played in the league for 14 seasons from 1996-2010. He won the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2001.

Check out Allen Iverson’s appearance in the GQ Sports Style Hall of Fame issue below. Other athletes showcased by the outlet include Deion Sanders and Derek Jeter.

Introducing the inaugural @GQSports Style Hall of Fame issue: @DeionSanders, @AllenIverson, and @DerekJeter https://t.co/4SMXPBFuK4 #GQSHOF pic.twitter.com/tGgF4mC66A

— GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) January 9, 2023

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Reebok to Re-Release Iconic Answer IV Worn by Allen Iverson in 01 Finals

June 24, 2022 by newhiphopnews

The first re-release of this specific black/white player-exclusive Answer IV since the 2001 season has been confirmed by Reebok. The 2001 game 5 Answer IV will release on June 24.

The shoe, which was a direct colorway reissue of Iverson’s pair from the 2001 finals game 5, was launched globally in 2021, ahead of a summer 2022 American release.

OG underfoot tooling with an embedded Iverson face logo, ribbed heel underlay, sublimated I3 tongue print, a smooth upper vamp, and the iconic zipper shroud are just a few of the classic elements.

The post Reebok to Re-Release Iconic Answer IV Worn by Allen Iverson in 01 Finals appeared first on The Source.

Hooper Turned Rapper DC The Don Rates NBA Stars’ Rap Bars

June 6, 2022 by newhiphopnews

The rapper-hooper comparison might be a cliche, but cliches are cliches for a reason. It remains as true as ever: Rappers all want to be ballers and ballers all want to rap. Now, more than ever, the crossover (heh) has gotten ridiculous, blurring the lines between the two as former high school hoop stars like NLE Choppa and Quavo pen Billboard hits, and rap’s upper echelon guys get pro hoops co-signs from LeBron James like Lil Durk, sign pro contracts like J. Cole, or host their own in-home rec leagues like Drake.

Intriguingly enough, as more NBA stars dip their toes into rap careers, following in the footsteps of Shaq, Kobe, and Allen Iverson, it’s a little rarer to see ball players get serious about their rhymes. Of course, there’s Damian Lillard, who’s three albums deep into his career as Dame D.O.L.L.A., but for the most part, the current generation of NBA talent has yet to commit. Maybe they just need a little encouragement, and that’s where Milwaukee native/LA transplant DC The Don steps in.

The 6’7 rising rap star is best known for viral tracks like “Worst Day” and “Walk Thru,” but he’s probably just as well-known for his first song “Everything 1K” appearing in Big Baller Brand’s first sneaker commercial. That’s because he was a former Chino Hills High teammate of Lonzo Ball — another aspiring rhyme purveyor currently playing in the NBA — and his brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo. Obviously, DC went the other way, and so he’s willing to lend some of his expertise to rating NBA stars’ rap bars. Check out the video above.