Allen Iverson, the Philadelphia 76ers’ legendary guard, is no stranger to shining a spotlight on greatness. Known for his unmatched grit and iconic career, Iverson became the face of the franchise in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His, signature crossovers, earned him an MVP award in 2001 and a trip to the NBA Finals. Today, Iverson’s role as a cultural ambassador for the 76ers extends to championing the stars of the present and past.

In a recent Instagram post, Iverson shared a photo featuring Tyrese Maxey and 76ers legend Julius Erving. “Always us never them @tyresemaxey @juliuserving @sixers,” Iverson wrote as the caption. This post resonated with NBA fans, catching the attention of another basketball great, Carmelo Anthony, who showed his approval by liking the picture. The image also serves as a rallying cry for the injured Maxey, who has been a vital piece of the team’s current success.

Maxey, the electric young guard for the 76ers, was ruled out of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on November 7 due to a hamstring injury. He underwent an MRI the following day and was officially diagnosed with a hamstring strain. He was ruled out of action for a week as a result. But the 24-year-old hasn’t yet been brought into the lineup, despite the one-week deadline, but the point guard said he’s recovering.

“I feel great. I feel really good, man. Got a chance to move around on the court a little bit the last couple of days. I’m moving faster, and I feel a lot more confident. I should be out there sooner than later,” said Maxey during the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast.

Prior to the injury, Maxey was averaging 27.6 points and 3.9 assists per game. Including Julius Erving in Iverson’s post only increases that historical significance. The 76ers veteran remains one of its most iconic players and played for them from 1976 to 1987. An ABA 3x MVP and NBA champion in 1983, Erving averaged 22 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 836 games.

Meanwhile, Allen Iverson’s career stats — 27.6 points, 6.1 assists per game with the Sixers — speak for themselves. Together, Iverson and Erving represent the franchise’s storied legacy, now passed on to players like Maxey, who are writing the next chapter of 76ers basketball.

Carmelo Anthony’s subtle nod to Iverson’s post underscores the broader NBA community’s appreciation for these connections. As a contemporary of Iverson and an admirer of Dr. J, Anthony’s reaction is symbolic of how past and present stars uplift one another. However, did you know what Iverson had said about Melo once?

When Allen Iverson commented about mentoring Carmelo Anthony

As a longtime NBA player, Allen Iverson had a lot of experience to lend younger ones. But when it came to coaching Carmelo Anthony, ‘The Answer’ felt that Anthony was already well prepared for the challenge of high-level NBA basketball.

When asked about mentoring the younger star during an interview, Iverson’s response was as authentic as his playstyle. “First of all, I just look at it as him being a teammate of mine. Whenever you can help a teammate of yours, you try to give a hand, and I would hope that he would do the same for me. I’m older than him. I’ve been where he’s at,” said Iverson to Inside Hoops.

Iverson and Anthony had a two-year stint as co-stars in Denver. Throughout that stretch, they shared the floor in 113 games and averaged a total of 101.5 points per game to become the second-best in the league in that category in the 2007-08 season. Iverson’s approach emphasized that mentorship doesn’t always require words.