PHOTO CREDIT: JERRY LODRIGUSS / STAFF FILE PHOTO

76ers Had To Hide Allen Iverson’s Jersey So He Couldn’t Play Injured

Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson is considered to be one of the most groundbreaking players in NBA history.

His skills, unique style, and devastating crossover–to go with his 6’0” frame–put him in the same breath with some of the all-time greats. Iverson went toe-to-toe with many of them, and never backed down from a fight.

And while we all know that Iverson wasn’t the biggest fan of practice (I mean we’re talking about practice… not the game…), he always showed up for any games, no matter if he was healthy or not. Iverson had so much heart and love for the game, that he showed up at the arena no matter what.

This led to a point where the Sixers had to protect Iverson form himself. The franchise’s former general manager Billy King joined The Audacy NBA Show with Ryan McDonough, and revealed that the Sixers would hide Allen Iverson’s jersey so he couldn’t play injured:

When he was injured and we knew he couldn’t play we used to hide his jersey. Because he would come to the locker room looking for his jersey, we’d lock it somewhere so he couldn’t get it…. One time, in New York, he found his jersey but didn’t have any shoes. He was trying to send the ball boy to the Foot Locker around the corner. He said ‘just give me a pair of their Reeboks. I can play in those.’ Then he pointed to an attendant, ‘what size are you, just give me those shoes,’ because he wanted to play so bad.