“Allen Iverson and Steph, they were just so relatable, and kids felt like they could be them.” LeBron James highly praised Iverson and Curry for their cultural impact on today’s NBA. Despite being just 6 feet, AI raised the game with his crossovers and even caught Michael Jordan off guard. Similarly, another current star who spent his rookie season with ‘The Answer‘ highly spoke about his impact.

“I think that’s what really made me the player I am today. Having guys like Lou, Andre Iguodala, AI, guys that showed me how to be a professional on the court and off the court.” Jrue Holiday on Run it Back explained the importance of veterans in his rookie year. “Honestly, just how to carry myself, I think the work ethic was always there but you know coming in young, I think it’s detrimental to have veterans who can show you the right way to work.”

AI understood his role since his journey to the league was full of thorns. Before entering the league, faced arrest for a racially charged bowling alley brawl in 1993. Later, the sentence was reduced to just 4 months from the initial 15 years of jail time after civil rights groups and local churches came together to protest the decision.

Soon there will be a documentary from writer Lisa Hampton, to highlight Allen Iverson’s journey. Even in the league, he had to face some problems due to his nature. At the time, not many players styled or dressed to express themselves. But the 76ers legend challenged those norms as he stood true to his personality. That is why many players follow AI, as even Jamal Crawford explained the impact.

“My mom would say I had 35 pictures of cutouts from like Slam Magazine on my wall of him. So I’m just staring at him, how small he is I’m like there’s no way this dude is just dominating like this.” Not just Crawford, but other players felt they could relate with Allen Iverson.

Allen Iverson left a lasting impact on Melo

During Melo’s time with the Nuggets, Allen Iverson was traded to the team after Carmelo Anthony’s draft. Yet the connection and bond they created was strong, AI was there only for two years, but enough to leave a mark. “I felt like he was the only one who understood my dynamics and what I was dealing with and what I was going through.”

Even the Syracuse legend came into the league with his flair, but his partnership with AI too created extraordinary numbers. The Iverson-Anthony duo averaged 26.3 points per game and in the 2007-08 season, they ranked third and fourth respectively on the list of top scorers in the league. Carmelo Anthony’s highest-scoring regular season was in 2006-07 when Iverson joined the team for his first season.

So, Iverson’s abilities reached both on-court and off-court. His speed and agility and never backing down from any challenge are truly remembered not only by fans but superstars of the game as well.