Fear No One: An Allen Iverson Story

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Fear No One: The Allen Iverson Story.

The sporting world has rarely been without its share of polarizing figures. People whose high level talent can only be rivaled by their big personalities. There are only a select few players in the history of the NBA whose ability and star power could rival that of Allen Iverson. There are also a select few who have caused as much off-the-court chaos for those in the front office. He was a player you loved to have on your team... until you got on his bad side, be it by things that the front office did themselves, or the coaching staff underneath them.

Case in point, the final three years of Iverson's time in Philadelphia. In 03-04, Sixers' Interim Head Coach Chris Ford suspended AI for missing practice (leading to perhaps the most famous press conference in NBA history), fined him for failing to let him know that he'd miss a game because he was sick, and "insulted" his star by asking him to come off of the bench following an injury, leading The Answer to refuse to play.

Eventually, the end of Iverson's time in Philly would come a few years later, after Iverson and Head Coach Maurice Cheeks had a few clashes (just a year after Iverson had averaged a career high 33 points per game under Cheeks) and Iverson allegedly demanded a trade from the Sixers. He then spent the rest of his career bouncing here and there.

Denver for two seasons (which included a famous spat between AI and official Steve Javie), Detroit for a season, Memphis for all of three games and even a return to Philly, all followed by a 10 game spell in Turkey with Besiktas- and then, it was over. The career of a guy who could absolutely take over a game on both sides of the ball had ended in the most pedestrian way possible. Worse yet, it hadn't even culminated in an NBA title.

Iverson had one good shot at a title, making the 2001 NBA Finals against the vaunted LA Lakers. He dominated game one, scoring 48 points and shocking the basketball world as the Sixers took down the Lakers 107-101 and handing LA their first playoff loss of the season. It all went downhill from there, however, as the Sixers were swept the rest of the way despite a heroic effort from Iverson, who averaged 35.6 points for the series. And then, as quickly as the Sixers had approached the summit, they faded back to obscurity, failing to get past the Eastern Conference Semifinals in either of the next two seasons. AI's shot disappeared as quickly as it had come.

And that is what this story will aim to fix. Can Iverson finally get the championship that eluded him and to reach the summit of basketball? Or will it peter out the same way as his real life career did? Either way it is not going to be easy. We pick this story up in June 2002 just before the NBA Draft.

Platform: NBA 2K24 XBox Series X
Control: Player Lock: Allen Iverson
Rosters: 2K3 In Progress (RMJH4)
Draft Classes: 2003 (RMJH4)

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Storyline.

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News Articles.

Philadelphia 76ers Make Bold Move, Hire Daryl Morey as General Manager.
Larry Brown steps down as 76ers Head Coach.
Rockets Win 2002 NBA Draft Lottery With a Francis Assist.

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2002-03 Season

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Depth Chart and Roster.

2002-03 Season.

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Philadelphia 76ers Make Bold Move, Hire Daryl Morey as General Manager, Dismiss Billy King.

Philadelphia, June 1, 2002.

In a stunning turn of events, the Philadelphia 76ers have shaken up their front office by appointing Daryl Morey as their new General Manager, effectively parting ways with Billy King. The decision comes amidst a period of reflection following the team's disappointing exit from the NBA playoffs, prompting ownership to pursue fresh leadership to guide the franchise into a new era.

Morey has been lauded for his analytical prowess and innovative approach to team-building, joins the 76ers after a successful stint with the Boston Celtics' front office as Assistant GM. His tenure with the Celtics saw the team rise to prominence last year in reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in which Boston lost 4-2 to the New Jersey Nets. Morey employed advanced statistical analysis and forward-thinking strategies to assemble a championship-contending roster alongside GM Chris Wallace.

The announcement of Morey's arrival signals a seismic shift in Philadelphia's organizational philosophy. With a keen eye for talent and a track record of maximizing player potential, Morey is expected to revitalize the 76ers and position them as a force to be reckoned with in the highly competitive landscape of the NBA.

"I am honored and excited to join the Philadelphia 76ers organization," said Morey in a statement following his appointment. "I believe in the team's potential and am committed to building a championship-caliber squad that the city of Philadelphia can be proud of."

The decision to part ways with Billy King, who served as the 76ers' General Manager for the past five years, marks the end of an era for the franchise. While King made significant contributions during his tenure, including orchestrating the blockbuster trade for Dikembe Mutombo in February 2001, last season saw the team struggle to recapture its former glory.

Under King's leadership, the 76ers have faced criticism for their lack of strategic direction and inability to assemble a roster capable of competing for an NBA title after such a great run in 2000-01. With fan frustration reaching a boiling point, ownership deemed it necessary to make a change at the helm in order to usher in a new era of success for the storied franchise.

"This decision was not made lightly, but we believe it is in the best interest of the Philadelphia 76ers moving forward," said team owner, Jeffrey Lurie. "We thank Billy King for his contributions to the organization and wish him the best in his future endeavors."

As the 76ers embark on a new chapter under the leadership of Daryl Morey, anticipation and excitement are palpable among fans eager to see the direction in which he will steer the team. With the NBA offseason underway, all eyes will be on Morey as he begins the task of reshaping the roster and charting a course back towards championship contention.

The Philadelphia faithful can rest assured that their beloved franchise is in capable hands, as Morey brings his vision and expertise, the future looks bright for the Philadelphia 76ers as they aim to reclaim their status among the league's elite.

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Larry Brown steps down as 76ers Head Coach.

June 2, 2002.

PHILADELPHIA -- After six eventful seasons at the helm, Larry Brown has decided it's time for a change, resigning as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite a successful tenure that included five consecutive playoff appearances and an NBA Finals berth, Brown felt a fresh perspective was needed for the team to progress.

"This has been coming for a long time,'' Brown expressed during a news conference. "I kind of thought in the middle of the season that we needed a change, a fresh look. And that's been on my mind awhile.''

The departure of the Hall of Famer opens up speculation about his next coaching destination, with vacancies in Cleveland, Houston, and other teams potentially on the horizon.

Brown's contract with the 76ers had two years remaining, worth $6 million per season, but the team graciously released him from any contractual constraints that would hinder his coaching prospects elsewhere.

"A lot of jobs are open, but I just left a great one,'' Brown acknowledged. "I'm going to sit back, try to get with my family and figure out what's best for everybody.''

The 76ers' search for Brown's successor begins immediately. While potential candidates remain undisclosed, speculation includes figures like Portland coach Maurice Cheeks, a former player under Brown's tutelage.

Brown's legacy in Philadelphia is undeniable. Taking over a struggling franchise in 1997, he transformed the team into a perennial playoff contender, culminating in a Finals appearance in 2001.

"I think it's time to get somebody else in here to maybe give a fresh look,'' Brown reflected. "I didn't want to hold this franchise back and I felt by staying here, I'd do that.''

While Brown's tenure was marked by success on the court, it wasn't without its challenges, notably a contentious relationship with star player Allen Iverson. Despite their differences, Brown and Iverson managed to collaborate effectively, achieving considerable success together.

Looking ahead, Brown remains enthusiastic about coaching and is eager to explore new opportunities in the basketball world. With a storied coaching career spanning over three decades, Brown's next chapter promises to be as captivating as his last.

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Rockets Win 2002 NBA Draft Lottery With a Francis Assist.

They call him Stevie Franchise because of his scintillating and productive play at point guard. But today he gave Houston Rockets fans another reason to chant his nickname. As the only player on a dais filled with representatives from 12 other teams, Steve Francis watched Houston win the top pick in the N.B.A. draft lottery.

''A lot of those guys looked at me like they wanted to knock the mess out of Steve Francis,'' he said with a laugh. ''Maybe this is the start of me working on my career outside of basketball.''

At 25, Francis still has a bright future ahead of him on the court, and it is beginning to look the same way for the Rockets. They had an 8.9 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick, but made the leap all the way from fifth.

The Chicago Bulls and the Golden State Warriors had the best chance of finishing first, at 22.5 percent each. But the Bulls came in second, and the Warriors finished third. Memphis fell from the third spot to receive the fourth pick, and Denver dropped from fourth to fifth.

The rest of the order went according to form, with Cleveland selecting sixth, the Knicks seventh, Atlanta eighth, Phoenix ninth, Miami 10th, Washington 11th, the Los Angeles Clippers 12th and the Milwaukee Bucks 13th.

While much has been made about Yao Ming, the 7-foot-5 Chinese center whom many teams would select first, it is not clear what Houston will do. Neither Carroll Dawson, the Rockets' general manager, nor Coach Rudy Tomjanovich was at the N.B.A. Entertainment Studios, where the lottery was held. Francis spoke with each by telephone moments after the lottery but received no clues as to which way the Rockets would go.

Dawson, who has scouted Yao in China, is known to be impressed with him, and in a Western Conference full of size, Yao would be a good fit. Yao's handlers have implied that he would prefer to play in a large city with a significant Chinese population. Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city, is 5.3 percent Asian, the eighth-largest percentage in the country.

The Rockets, who have young talent at most positions, could also trade the pick for an established veteran. What seems certain is that they will not take Jay Williams, the Duke point guard who with Yao is considered one of the top two players available.

Williams would make a lot of sense for Chicago, which traded away Elton Brand for last season's No. 2 pick, the budding star Tyson Chandler. But Jerry Krause, the Bulls' general manager, is leaving his options open.

''If somebody makes an offer that we can't refuse, we'll certainly listen to it,'' Krause said, referring to a trade. ''That guy we got at No. 2 last year is a pretty good player, Mr. Chandler. If we get another one like that, oh boy, I'd be the happiest man on earth.''

Naturally, several executives were disappointed, none more than Jerry West, who recently took over as president for the Memphis Grizzlies, and Scott Layden, the Knicks' president and general manager. West was upset that the Grizzlies did not at least keep the third selection, while Layden appeared to be stunned that the Knicks remained seventh.

Layden may have spent more time than any other league executive scouting Yao, and now the Knicks have very little chance of acquiring him. Layden left open the possibility of trading up for the top pick, but most league officials believe the Knicks lack the desirable personnel to gain the No. 1 selection.

While Yao may be out of the question, the Knicks believe the draft is deep enough to get a solid player at No. 7.

There are all sorts of possibilities for the Knicks. Curtis Borchardt, a 6-11 junior from Stanford, and Chris Marcus, a 7-1 junior from Western Kentucky, are the top centers after Yao. Chris Wilcox of Maryland and Maybyner Hilario of Brazil are the top power forwards. Kansas' Drew Gooden, who plays both forward spots, will probably not be available at No. 7.