Iverson was absent from most of the 76ers regular season games; his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah, was diagnosed with an undisclosed disease early this year and has been ill for some time now. During practice, Iverson said that it was difficult to leave his wife and his children, even for work.
In filing for divorce, Iverson's wife, Tawanna, stated that her marriage was broken and asked for full custody of their five children. The youngest child is 17 months; the oldest, 15 years.
Iverson's personal situation had become problematic for his basketball career, becoming a distraction for the team. The player decided that the most important thing was for him to be with his family.
"After discussing the situation with Allen, we have come to the conclusion that he will not return to the Sixers for the remainder of the season, as he no longer wishes to be a distraction to the organization and teammates that he loves very deeply," team president Ed Stefanski said. "It has been very difficult for Allen and the team to maintain any consistency as he tries to balance his career with his personal life."
Stephen A. Smith, a reporter who has claimed to follow Iverson for some time, wrote a column on the player this week in the Philadelphia Inquirer. He revealed that Iverson's alcohol and gambling problems have become severe; in fact, the player has been banned from casinos in Atlantic City and New Jersey.
Smith also wrote that the former MVP needed someone to help him through his difficulties, someone like former Temple coach John Chaney, who might be able to offer the right combination of empathy and firmness to guide him.
Whether Iverson will receive that guidance in time to rescue his career is uncertain.
Iverson started his professional career playing with the Philadelphia 76ers when he was chosen as the 1st overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. He played for Philadelphia for 10 years, during which time he made several records and titles. Conflicts with the 76ers Coach Maurice Cheeks, however, led to Iverson being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2006. He spent two years with the Nuggets before he was dealt to the Detroit Pistons.
He signed with the Grizzlies in 2009 but after a short period he finally signed back with the Sixers for the 2010 season, a deal that made for some very happy fans. The deal was for a non-guaranteed year with a salary of $1.3 million.
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