 |
(AP-연합뉴스) |
화려한 ‘크로스오버’ 드리블과 폭발적인 득점력으로 미프로농구(NBA) 팬들을 열광하게 했던 앨런 아이버슨 (38)이 30일 (현지시간) 공식적으로 은퇴를 발표했다.
아이버슨은 이날 미국 필라델피아 웰스 파고 센터에서 열린 필라델피아 세븐티식서스(이하 식서스)와 NBA 마이애미 히트와의 개막전에 앞서 은퇴를 공식 선언했다.
필라델피아 소속으로 주로 활약했던 아이버슨은 “죽을때까지 식서스의 일원일 것”이라며 전 팀에 대한 애정을 나타냈다. 아이버슨이 현역시절 달았던 등번호 3번에 대한 영구결번식은 3월 1일, 워싱턴과의 경기에서 열릴 예정이다.
 |
NBA 스타 앨런 아이버슨이 30일 (현지시간) 은퇴를 발표하는 도중 눈물을 훔치고 있다. (AP-연합뉴스) |
아이버슨은 이날 은퇴식에서 식서스 시절 감독인 래리 브라운 감독, 조지타운 재학시절 감독인 존 톰슨 등이 자신을 "진정한 남자"가 되게 해줬다며 고마움을 표했다. 그는 또한 전 식서스 동료 애런 맥키와의 친밀한 관계에 대해 언급했으며, ‘농구황제’ 마이클 조던이 그에게 "영감을 주었다"고 설명했다.
아이버슨은 코비 브라이언트(LA 레이커스), 스티브 내쉬(LA 레이커스), 레이 알렌(마이애미 히트) 등 수많은 스타들을 배출한 NBA 1996년 신인 드래프트에서 아이버슨은 당당히 전체 1순위로 필라델피아에 지명되었다. 신인 시절 마이클 조던을 제치고 점프슛을 꽂아넣기도 했던 아이버슨은 빼어난 활약으로 신인왕을 차지하였다.
그는 현역시절 특유의 힙합패션과 자신만만한 언행과 태도, 뛰어난 기량으로 "앤서(Answer)"라는 애칭으로 불리며 수많은 팬들을 거느렸다.
직장폐쇄 사태로 단축시즌이 치러졌던 1999시즌에 역대 최단신 득점왕, 2000-2001 시즌에는 득점왕과 더불어 역대 최단신 최우수 선수 (MVP)에 등극하면서 팀을 챔피언 결정전까지 이끄는 등 활약했다. 챔피언 결정전에서 비록 LA 레이커스에게 석패했지만 당시 플레이오프 전승을 기록중이던 레이커스에게 1차전 패배를 안기는 등 그의 맹활약은 지금까지도 많은 팬들 사이에서 회자되고 있다.
이후 덴버 너기츠, 디트로이트 피스톤스, 멤피스 그리즐리스 등으로 팀을 옮겼지만 2009년 12월 필라델피아로 복귀, 25경기를 뛴 뒤 부상 때문에 경기에 출전하지 못했다.
그러나 아이버슨은 은퇴 이후 이혼, 금전적 어려움 등을 겪으며 팬을 안타깝게 했다.
아이버슨은 뛰어난 실력에도 불구하고 자유분방한 성격으로 인해 주위 사람들과 마찰을 겪기도 했는데, 식서스의 전성기를 지휘했던 래리 브라운 감독은 그가 지나치게 슛을 많이 던진다고 비판한 바 있다.
또한 아이버슨은 팀훈련에 자주 늦거나 불참한 것으로 악명이 높았는데, 한 기자회견 도중 이에 관해 질문을 받자 '연습이 필요이상으로 강조되고 있다'라는 요지로 '연습(practice)'이라는 단어를 인터뷰 도중 20회에 가깝게 반복해 화제가 된 적이 있다.
브라운 감독은 이런저런 마찰에도 불구하고 아이버슨의 은퇴에 대해 "더 뛸 수 있었다"며 아쉬움을 드러냈다. 브라운 감독은 "그(아이버슨)은 믿을 수 없는 커리어를 보냈다. 농구 역사상 어떤 단신 선수도 그와 같은 영향력을 발휘하진 못했다. 내가 어딜 가든지 간에 사람들은 알렌 (아이버슨)에 대해 물어본다"고 말했다.
"전설"의 퇴장에 지난시즌 MVP인 르브론 제임스 (마이애미 히트)는 "앨런은 대단한 선수생활을 보냈다. 그는 역사상 가장 뛰어난 선수 중 하나"라고 아이버슨을 칭송했다.
제임스는 "아이버슨이 리그를 위해 한 일은 대단했으며, 항상 기억될 것"이라고 말했다. (코리아헤럴드 윤민식 기자)
<관련 영문 기사>
Saying goodbye: Allen Iverson retires from NBA
Allen Iverson's highlights played one more time on the big screen, diehard Philadelphia 76ers fans and Julius Erving all part of the crowd catching one more glimpse of No. 3 in his prime.
His killer crossover in his rookie season that dusted Michael Jordan.
The jumper he buried over Tyronn Lue, then highstepped over the fallen Lakers defender in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals.
All there. All as much part of Iverson's DNA as the rants about practice, the cornrows, the controversy.
All in the past.
This was time for A.I to say goodbye.
Iverson officially called it quits _ though, in truth, it was the NBA that gave up on him _ nearly four years after he played his last game.
He did it in typical A.I. flair, eschewing a suit fit for a black leather hoodie, askew black cap and a gold chain around his neck.
“I always felt like it was cool being me,” Iverson said.
Iverson retired Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center, the site of so many of the moments he crafted into a Hall of Fame worthy career. Iverson led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA finals, won four scoring titles, clashed with former coach Larry Brown, and was an All-Star game fixture. Winning a championship is the lone void in a bio sheet that forever stamps him among the league's greats.
The undersized guard with the supersized heart was a perfect match in a city that prizes authenticity and hustle as much as production.
“I'm going to always be a Sixer til I die,” he said.
And his number will always hang in the rafters. Iverson's No. 3 will be retired on March 1 against Washington.
The 38-year-old Iverson had not played an NBA game since Feb. 20, 2010, in his second, short-lived stint with the Sixers. The 6-foot, 165-pound guard also played for Denver, Detroit and Memphis over a 14-year career that has him 19th on the career scoring list with 24,368 points.
He also played in Turkey before realizing the NBA doors would not open for him again.
“I thought that once this day came, it would be basically a tragic day,” Iverson said. “I never imagined the day coming, but I knew it would come. I feel proud and happy to say that I'm happy with my decision and I feel great.”
Iverson always proclaimed his love of Philly, the fans and the Sixers and swore he wanted to end his career with the franchise that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft.
He fearlessly crashed the lane against players nearly a foot taller than him, played through countless injuries and added the pizazz that was missing in what was a staid franchise. He transformed the 76ers from lottery losers to contenders, though he couldn't bring home an NBA title to this championship-starved city. He came close in 2001, when the 76ers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals.
Iverson was arguably one of the four greatest Sixers, compiling a sparkling resume that put him in the mix with Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, and Charles Barkley. His No. 3 jersey was a best seller around the globe, the headband wrapped snugly around his cornrows, and the tattoos were as much a part of his image as the way he ricochets around the court. Play every game like it was his last was more than a catchphrase, it was a lifestyle.
“My whole thing was, just being me,” Iverson said. “Now, you look around the NBA and all of them have tattoos, guys wearing cornrows. You used to think the suspect was the guy with the cornrows, now you see the police officers with the cornrows. You know what I'm saying? I took a beating for those types of things.”
From the throwback jerseys to the bling in his ears, Iverson shaped a generation of kids that star in today's NBA.
“He made it cool to be a hip kid,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade said.
Iverson's years in Philadelphia were marred by arrests in 1997 for carrying a concealed weapon and for possession of marijuana and in 2002 over a domestic dispute with his wife. He was sentenced to community service in 1997 and all charges were dropped against him five years later.
Then there was the never-released rap album, which drew criticism from civil rights groups and got Iverson a reprimand from NBA commissioner David Stern because of its offensive lyrics.
“I made a lot of mistakes, a lot of things I'm not proud of,” he said. “But it's only for other people to learn from.”
Iverson and Brown were a volatile combination during the six seasons they spent together in Philly. Brown criticized Iverson for taking too many shots and accused him of being selfish at times.
Iverson often arrived late for practice or missed them entirely. In one infamous blowup at the end of the 2002 season he repeated the word “practice” nearly 20 times during a rambling monologue. Iverson said he had no regrets about what he said, or any part of his career, including his beefs with Brown.
Brown and Iverson eventually reconciled and the coach made his former guard co-captain of the 2004 Olympic men's basketball team.
“I'm sick that he's going to retire. I don't think he's ready,” Brown said. “I think he still could play.
“He had an unbelievable career. I don't think any little player in the history of our game impacted the game like he did. I can't go anywhere where people don't stop me and ask me about Allen.”
Iverson credited Brown, and his Georgetown coach John Thompson, who was at the ceremony, for turning him into a man. He had a catch in his voice taking about his deep relationship with former Sixer Aaron McKie. He called Jordan an inspiration.
But Iverson's post-NBA career has been marred by divorce and stories of financial ruin and alcohol abuse. Iverson was flanked on the podium by three of his children, and said he couldn't let every rumor about his personal life upset him.
The Sixers have talked to Iverson about a role with the franchise but no decision has been finalized.
Miami's LeBron James, a 2004 Olympic teammate of Iverson's, said it was time to give The Answer his due.
“Allen had a great career, one of the best players to ever play the game,” James said. “What he did for this league was great and will always be remembered.” (AP)
