In a league where giants ruled the court, a 6-foot-dynamo changed basketball forever with his unstoppable crossover and fearless drives to the rim. Allen Iverson, the cultural icon who stepped over Tyronn Lue in the 2001 NBA Finals and carried the Philadelphia 76ers on his slender shoulders, despite having to go through some ups and downs in his career, managed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016 with the showcase of his unique skills. Now, the former shooting guard is ready to unveil his most personal story yet with his upcoming documentary ‘WRONG BALL: The Allen Iverson Way’. And Essentially Sports has some insider’s peak for everyone.

On account of the bonus trailer release of the documentary, the writer Lisa Hampton herself made a revelation in an interview with Essentially Sports about what the documentary has in store for fans. “Fans can expect to learn that Allen Iverson’s journey is their journey, too. For example, the documentary will explore other stories of youth across America impacted by injustice: Central Park 5, Jena 6, Bronx 6, and Iverson’s story, the Hampton 4. Never before has the Hampton 4 story been connected to other injustices,” said Hampton during the interview.

Long before he became “The Answer,” who averaged 26.7 points per game through his career and won four scoring titles, Iverson was staring down a 15-year prison sentence at just 17 years of age. Caught in a racially charged bowling alley brawl, the man who would cross up Michael Jordan as a rookie and win the 1997 Rookie of the Year award, had his bright future threatened. This incident took place on Valentine’s Day of 1993 when Bubba Chuck was out with some of his friends and ended up with a 23-year-old needing six stitches near her eye as a chair struck her.

Four people, including Iverson, were arrested in the incident’s aftermath. Later, during a trial at a circuit court, Judge Nelson Overton sentenced him to 15 years in jail. The community was not happy with the judgment and the situation turned into Civil rights groups and local churches joining hands to get justice for Iverson. As a result, his sentence was reduced to four months but the result of this incident went heavy for him.

After getting out of prison, he was thrown out of Bethel High School and had to go to a public school. Also, his college offers dried up and it was only for Georgetown University’s coach John Thompson that he got a scholarship which ultimately paved the way for his NBA journey with the Philadelphia 76ers. “Fans can expect to see how Allen Iverson’s personal journey, through the criminal justice system as a youth, deprived him of his childhood dreams to be a football player and attend a college of his choice,” said Lisa Hampton in the interview.

According to Lisa Hampton, ‘Wrong Ball’ also aims to place the Hampton 4 case alongside other pivotal moments in America’s history of racial injustice, drawing parallels with the Central Park 5 and Jena 6 cases. Like the wrongfully accused Central Park 5, who spent years in prison before being exonerated, the Hampton 4 incident, similarly highlighted the systemic biases in the judicial system, particularly in how it treated young Black men. Just as the Jena 6 case in 2006 exposed racial tensions in Louisiana’s criminal justice system, Iverson’s case brought attention to Virginia’s controversial “maiming by mob” statute ”“ a law with roots in the Jim Crow era that was disproportionately applied to Black defendants.

But Iverson’s impact is still being felt in the NBA today. You can see his influence in the league’s wholehearted adoption of hip-hop culture, tattoos, and individuality. His reckless style of play is clearly reflected by the current stars such as Ja Morant and Trae Young, and his Reebok shoes became milestone collectibles. We all remember the 2016 Hall of Fame inductee’s famous “practice” rant, mirroring his cultural impact well after his playing days.

Ahead of this revealing documentary, Iverson’s story seems to reach well beyond sports. His journey from a 15-year sentence to now being one of 75 players named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team is nothing short of resilience. However, what is the new thing that he has revealed regarding a current player?

Allen Iverson lauds Stephen Curry in a unique way

Apart from the revelation of his early life, the most iconic player in NBA history has made a surprising statement. In an interview with Essentially Sports, the former MVP expressed his willingness to give up his spot in the all-time starting five to make room for Stephen Curry. “Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Shaquille O’Neal (Steph Curry if not Allen),” said the former shooting guard.

The reason why AI chose Steph is quite understandable. Unlike typical starters, who take some time to get into games, Curry usually is red hot from the outset, twisting defenses from the first possession. This is shown perfectly in his legendary 2015-16 MVP season in which, in the first quarters, he averaged 12.2 points per game including 20.2 points per game in just the first quarters in March 2016. 

Moreover, Iverson has been a fan of Curry for years. He disclosed in 2022 that he purchased the NBA League Pass in order to see Curry. “All of my life watching basketball and seeing all the greats, this man is undoubtedly different!!!,” said Iverson. Iverson’s gesture is a testament to Curry’s greatness. The Warriors point guard has won four NBA championships and is widely considered one of the best shooters of all time. While some fans may disagree with Iverson’s decision, it is a sign of respect for Curry’s accomplishments. And surely, what AI himself has been able to achieve.