‘This is a moment I will never forget’: Iverson dives into carving ceremony originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
CAMDEN, NJ – Even before he glimpsed his sculpture, emotions hit Allen Iverson.
“It’s a huge honor, man,” Iverson said Friday at the Sixers’ training complex. “And it (doesn’t even feel) real. I don’t get too nervous, but just seeing so many people here that I love… I want to say all the right things and let you know how much I appreciate you.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t (cry), but thank you everyone for coming. Thank you everyone for participating in this, for making this dream come true.”
A few minutes later he came out and saw the sculpture created by Chad Fisher. Number 3 is now the tenth Sixers featured in the franchise’s Legends Walk.
Iverson liked Fisher’s work.
“I loved it,” he said. “I loved it. It’s crazy leading up to it. You’re just nervous because you hope it looks like you.
“Man, I was telling him, ‘You did a great job, man.’ This is a moment I will never forget. I will cherish this moment for the rest of my life.”
Iverson had a lot of love and support around him on Friday. His mother, Ann Iverson, was at his side. One of the many photos from the day showed Iverson between former Sixers president Pat Croce and former Sixers coach Larry Brown. Former teammates like Eric Snow, Aaron McKie, Larry Hughes and Matt Geiger surrounded Iverson.
Snow, who remained close to Iverson, highlighted the Hall of Fame guard’s “heart.”
“To this day, I’m not always awake when he calls me, but I’ll call him back the next day,” Snow said with a laugh. “Our schedule is a little different…. but he still keeps in touch. My kids love it when he calls. They want me to put it on speakerphone. My two boys, who have never seen him play, just want to hear his voice.
“But that’s the amazing part about him. Everywhere I’ve gone in my life – no matter where I’ve lived, no matter where I’ve traveled – people know, recognize and love who Allen Iverson is.”
Current Sixers coach Nick Nurse described Iverson’s relentless, fearless style as a lasting legacy.
“Just your heart, you saw it every night out there,” said the nurse. “I think what’s left – and will forever be – is a foundation of what this city stands for and how guys need to play the game. You go out there and play, wear that shirt, shit goes by quickly. You have to expect it, you have to enjoy it, and you have to give it everything you have, because everything happens like that when you’re a player.
“If anyone maximized that thought while playing this game, it was you. So thank you for that. And I’ll tell you what, I’m going to fight like hell to get this team back to where you took them a long time ago.
Iverson said he hopes anyone who passes by the sculpture remembers to “Just play every game like it’s your last. That has always been my motto.
“Regardless of the circumstances, if I’m injured or something, if I’m on the court, there’s no reason I can’t play that game like it’s my last. It’s not fair to myself, it’s not fair to God for giving me the talent. And I always thought, ‘I’m going to play harder than anyone here.’ … I would play harder than anyone, night after night.”
