Allen Iverson

While Ray Allen seemed to be in vintage form in the first half of the season, his right ankle prohibited a complete renaissance at age 36. Allen has experienced trouble with his ankles before, requiring double ankle surgery to remove bone spurs during the 2006-07 season, the season prior to arriving to Boston. Inasmuch as he would like to call this latest injury a minor setback, it could mean the end of his storied career. He may undergo surgery to remove bone spurs in the offseason and then enter the free agent market for the second time in three years.

While Ray Allen seemed to be in vintage form in the first half of the season, his right ankle prohibited a complete renaissance at age 36. Allen has experienced trouble with his ankles before, requiring double ankle surgery to remove bone spurs during the 2006-07 season, the season prior to arriving to Boston. Inasmuch as he would like to call this latest injury a minor setback, it could mean the end of his storied career. He may undergo surgery to remove bone spurs in the offseason and then enter the free agent market for the second time in three years.

Searching for that special something for the NBA GM in your life? Just in time for Christmas, how about a 31-year-old guard in possession of a game with a mind of its own? And it will only cost you $18 mill, per annum, to gain possession. You'd owe him $40 million, give or take a diamond earring, through 2008-09. Barring a rather major change in viewpoint on the part of his team owner, four-time scoring champ (who once again leads the league, even as we speak), three-time All-NBA first-teamer, once-upon-a-time MVP, and seven-time All-Star Allen Iverson has played his last game for the Philadelphia 76ers.

There is a group of veteran players looking to return to the NBA if the lockout ends soon. One of those players should be intriguing to the Celtics, who will have to fill six roster spots with inexpensive veteran talent prepared to help for one last title run. Allen Iverson has been looking for NBA work for a while now, essentially banishing himself from the league with a series of personal problems and flakiness. The widespread perception is that Iverson refused to accept that his once immense skills had declined to the point where he could no longer produce as a starter.

There is a group of veteran players looking to return to the NBA if the lockout ends soon. One of those players should be intriguing to the Celtics, who will have to fill six roster spots with inexpensive veteran talent prepared to help for one last title run. Allen Iverson has been looking for NBA work for a while now, essentially banishing himself from the league with a series of personal problems and flakiness. The widespread perception is that Iverson refused to accept that his once immense skills had declined to the point where he could no longer produce as a starter.

PHILADELPHIA -- After ripping his team for having no heart, Allen Iverson showed they still have a pulse. Iverson played one of his better offensive games of the season last night, scoring 39 points to lead the struggling Philadelphia 76ers past the weary and depleted Los Angeles Lakers, 96-73. In a game that stayed competitive for only a few minutes, Iverson had his way against defender Derek Fisher. Iverson shot 15 for 29 from the field -- missing his final four shots -- and added six assists in one of the 76ers' most lopsided victories of the season.

Allen Iverson took plenty of shots at his former team, and not all of them during the game. His 30 points weren't enough, however, as Kyle Korver scored 26 points to help the visiting Philadelphia 76ers beat the Nuggets, 108-97, last night in Iverson's first game against his former team. Iverson was 10 of 24 before getting tossed for his second technical with 1:44 remaining. Iverson's best shots came before tip-off when he ripped the team that traded him last month. The Sixers, who had lost 14 of 16 road games and 19 of their last 23 overall, scored 100 points for the...

Seattle's Ray Allen scored a season-high 42 points, including seven in overtime, to help the host SuperSonics overcome a 23-point deficit and defeat Portland, 119-108. The Trail Blazers led, 87-69, after the third quarter but Allen scored 20 points in the fourth to help send the game to overtime. Jerome James added 5 points in the extra period for the Sonics. Allen, in only his seventh game back after 25 games on the injured list after having bone spurs removed from his right ankle, was 16 for 27 from the field, dished out 8 assists, and pulled down 6 rebounds.

Allen Iverson kept scoring when Kobe Bryant faltered, and kept Philadelphia close to the division lead. Iverson outperformed Bryant, scoring 36 points and leading a decisive third-quarter run in the 76ers' 108-91 win over the Los Angeles Lakers last night at Philadelphia. But after the game, the Sixers announced Iverson had suffered a chip fracture of the left thumb. He left the arena with a hard cast and the team listed his status as day to day. The Sixers don't play until Friday night in Cleveland.

Allen Iverson outplayed Kobe Bryant in an anticipated matchup of the league's leading scorers, scoring 34 points and sinking the winner with 22.2 seconds left to lead the 76ers to an 85-81 win over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers last night. Iverson -- having an awful quarter after he missed an easy layup, two free throws, and was whistled for traveling in the fourth quarter -- stepped just inside the 3-point arc and buried a jumper in the final seconds for an 83-81 lead. Bryant missed a jumper over Andre Iguodala with about five seconds left, and Iverson made two free throws...

Allen Iverson wants to keep his passport at home. Ten years after he ruled the NBA as the cornrow-wearing, ink-stained MVP who led the Philadelphia 76ers to the finals, Iverson has his eyes on a comeback. He is determined to end a career possibly destined for the Hall of Fame in the NBA, not in some faraway country where brief YouTube clips are the only way to stay updated on the four-time scoring champion. The road back to 20,000 fans a night, national television and, yes, that one final run at the championship he still craves has already started.

NEW YORK - Allen Iverson was voted to start the All-Star Game for the Eastern Conference along with Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, while Steve Nash and Tim Duncan made late moves to claim starting spots for the Western Conference as the NBA announced the results of fan balloting yesterday. Nash passed the inactive Tracy McGrady as the second guard, while Duncan disappointed Dallas fans hoping to see Dirk Nowitzki start by rallying past the Mavericks forward. LeBron James was the leading vote-getter for the Feb. 14 game at Cowboys Stadium, becoming the first player to...

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - The New York Knicks won’t sign Allen Iverson, believing any short-term gain would hinder their plans to build for the future. Team president Donnie Walsh said yesterday the team won’t make any additions at this time despite its 2-9 record. He added the decision to pass on the former MVP had nothing to do with Iverson’s ability to play or his character in the locker room. “I’ve always admired him,’’ Walsh said. “I think he’d be a great addition for a team that’s in a different position than we’re in and I hope he gets...

Allen Iverson's first game with Detroit turned into the best night of Devin Harris's career. Harris scored a career-high 38 points last night, outplaying Iverson in the second half and leading the New Jersey Nets to a 103-96 victory over the Pistons in East Rutherford, N.J. New Jersey, which trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, played some of its best basketball of the season in the final two quarters to hand the Pistons their...

MEMPHIS - Celtics forward Kevin Garnett joined an exclusive club last night, one that has only three other current NBA players as members. It might not be long until teammate Ray Allen joins them. Garnett become the 32d player in NBA history to pass the 20,000-point mark during the Celtics' 119-89 victory over the Grizzlies at the sold-out FedEx Forum. Garnett scored 17 points in the game to give him 20,010 for his career. "I got to start shooting the ball more to catch him," said Allen, who scored a game-high 23 to give him 18,002 for his career.

Allen Iverson took plenty of shots at his former team, and not all of them during the game. His 30 points weren't enough, however, as Kyle Korver scored 26 points to help the visiting Philadelphia 76ers beat the Nuggets, 108-97, last night in Iverson's first game against his former team. Iverson was 10 of 24 before getting tossed for his second technical with 1:44 remaining. Iverson's best shots came before tip-off when he ripped the team that traded him last month. The Sixers, who had lost 14 of 16 road games and 19 of their last 23 overall, scored 100 points...

Rashard Lewis scored a season-high 37 points, and SuperSonics improved to 18-4 with a 108-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers last night in Seattle. Seattle is off to its best start since beginning the 1993-94 season 20-2 on the way to 63 wins. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 35 points. Ray Allen added 26 points for Seattle as they went head-to-head for the first time since the two exchanged barbs during the preseason. On Oct. 13, the day after the Lakers and SuperSonics met to open the preseason, Allen questioned Bryant's ability to lead the Lakers, wondering if Bryant's attitude would...

NEW YORK - Allen Iverson was voted to start the All-Star Game for the Eastern Conference along with Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, while Steve Nash and Tim Duncan made late moves to claim starting spots for the Western Conference as the NBA announced the results of fan balloting yesterday. Nash passed the inactive Tracy McGrady as the second guard, while Duncan disappointed Dallas fans hoping to see Dirk Nowitzki start by rallying past the Mavericks forward. LeBron James was the leading vote-getter for the Feb. 14 game at Cowboys Stadium, becoming the first player to earn at least...

Allen Iverson fought through jet lag, car sickness, and pregame butterflies that felt more like birds before he finally got to play his first game for the Denver Nuggets. When his debut with the depleted Nuggets was over last night, the feeling was familiar for the former 76er. Another crowd-pleasing performance -- 22 points and 10 assists over 39 minutes -- wasn't enough to prevent a 101-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings in Denver. "I'm glad it's over," Iverson said. "That's the only thing I thought about, just getting the first one by me. I wish it could've ended with a win. I felt it could've ended...

Searching for that special something for the NBA GM in your life? Just in time for Christmas, how about a 31-year-old guard in possession of a game with a mind of its own? And it will only cost you $18 mill, per annum, to gain possession. You'd owe him $40 million, give or take a diamond earring, through 2008-09. Barring a rather major change in viewpoint on the part of his team owner, four-time scoring champ (who once again leads the league, even as we speak), three-time All-NBA first-teamer, once-upon-a-time MVP, and seven-time All-Star Allen Iverson has played his last game for the...