More than 1,000 members of Reebok's staff were on hand as Nuggets guard Allen Iverson was presented with bronzed sneakers Sept. 19 in the lobby of the company's Canton headquarters in honor of selling the most shoes of any of its athletes. The eight-time NBA All-Star took questions from Reebok employees, including one on whether he could ever see himself in a Celtics uniform. The 2001 NBA MVP responded by saying he had strong respect for the team's history but hoped to finish his career in Denver.
Iverson here as visitor
Would-be Celtic happy in Denver
As for the Celtics, they definitely thought about what it would be like to have Iverson in uniform as they were constantly mentioned in trade rumors involving him before he was dealt from the 76ers to the Nuggets last year. Had Iverson been dealt to Boston, the current star trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen would have never come to be.
Tonight, Iverson and the Nuggets play the Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden.
"It was a good thing for me, you know, just for the fact that another team wanted me," said Iverson. "It's an honor to have another team want you. And then to have a chance to play for a great franchise like that, a winning franchise with the type of fans that they have with so much love for the sport . . .
"I thought it would've been a great opportunity for me. But, you know, that's the way it went down."
The Celtics reportedly talked trade with Philadelphia about Iverson prior to the 2006 draft, and rumors swirled that entire offseason. Iverson reportedly demanded a trade last Dec. 8 and was subsequently told by the Sixers that he would not play in or attend any further games.
One rumor had the Celtics sending Theo Ratliff, Delonte West, Sebastian Telfair, and budding star Al Jefferson to Philadelphia for Iverson. But several others teams also had interest in Iverson, and the last time the longtime Atlantic Division rivals were involved in a trade was Aug. 3, 2001, when the Sixers dealt Roshown McLeod and a first-round pick to Boston for Jerome Moiso.
When asked about making trades within the division, Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said, "It's hard, especially when you're talking about significant players."
On Dec. 19, the Iverson-to-Boston talk officially died as the 76ers sent Iverson and forward Ivan McFarlin to the Nuggets for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first-round picks.
So how close did Iverson come to being a Celtic?
"I don't comment on stuff like that or stuff that could've been and would've been," Ainge said. "I've always been a fan of A.I. and respect his intensity and passion to the game."
Ray Allen, however, was willing to ponder how the Celtics could be different today if an Iverson trade was made.
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