Iverson 'insulted' by decision to have him come off bench
The bell sounded on Round III of the Allen Iverson-Chris Ford struggle Monday, and it looks like this one could go the distance.
When is that? Possibly April 14, the last day of the regular season.
Iverson, who sat out the Philadelphia 76ers' 85-69 drubbing by the Detroit Pistons on Sunday after Ford told him he would have to come off the bench, said Monday that he was "insulted" by the interim coach's decision.
"A lot of people might look at it like it's a selfish thing or something like that," Iverson said. "Why wouldn't I start? I'm the franchise player here. I don't know any franchise players that come off the bench. I don't know any Olympian that comes off the bench. I don't know any All-Star that comes off the bench. I don't know any former MVP that comes off the bench. I don't know any three-time scoring champion that comes off the bench.
"I don't know any first team All-NBA (player) that comes off the bench. Why Allen Iverson? Why should I come off the bench? ... I think it is an insult to me. Who I am as a player, who I am to this organization, who I've been to this organization, that's an insult to me to come off the bench if I'm a starter."
Indeed, a lot of Philadelphia fans did see it as a selfish thing on Iverson's part. In a Philly.com poll Monday, 69% of more than 5,000 respondents feel Iverson was in the wrong, 19% say the Sixers were wrong and 12% fault both sides.
Iverson, 28, averaging 27.0 points a game, had missed the 76ers' previous three games with swelling in his right knee. Ford was informed about Iverson's decision to play less than an hour before game time and told him he could come off the bench.
Ford said Monday: "I made my decision, and he made his. ... I don't have any tension."
But there is tension.
Iverson and Ford have been at odds since Ford replaced Randy Ayers 15 games ago.
In Round I Ford benched Iverson in the first game after the All-Star break. Iverson said his flight was delayed leaving Los Angeles and he missed practice in Denver.
In Round II, Ford fined Iverson when he did not call Ford himself to inform the coach that he would not be at a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 29 because he was sick.
Philadelphia is playing about .500 basketball (7-8) under Ford, and the Sixers are 3-1 in their last four games without Iverson.
Despite a disappointing season — Philadelphia (28-39) is 11 games under .500 — the 76ers are in the playoff race, just two games behind the Miami Heat for the last spot in the East.
Billy King, the 76ers' president and general manager, said Iverson wouldn't be fined. With 15 regular-season games left, King might have to do more to resolve the situation.
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