Not many NBA players can solidify themselves as a cultural icon outside the league. But one NBA star has done that. From his fashion to his opinions, ‘The Answer‘ remains unapologetically exceptional. He attached his larger-than-life persona to a business venture started by a fellow retired NBA pro. After their initial success, the duo is now expanding their business in Philadelphia, home of the Philadelphia 76ers, where Allen Iverson became an NBA star.
A proponent of plant products, Allen Iverson was drawn to NBA pro-turned-entrepreneur Al Harrington in this space. They’re now growing their partnership together with a special event.
Allen Iverson heads to 76ers nation
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In 2021, Allen Iverson entered a business partnership with Viola, Al Harrington’s cannabis brand. The duo launched a collection named after the 11x All-Star immediately. After finding initial success in New Jersey, they’re now taking AI’s special strain to Pennsylvania.
Fans would know that the place has special significance for Iverson. He began his pro-basketball career with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996 and came a full circle with the franchise. Philly and the fans here are special to him and launching his plant strain there is meaningful to him.
Viola has released their latest strain, Iverson ’01, under the NBA star’s collection. Following New Jersey, the new strain will launch exclusively in RISE locations in Pennsylvania starting September 2. Following the announcement of the new product, the brand amped up the excitement by declaring a meet-and-greet to complement the launch. Viola CEO, Harrington will accompany Iverson at the event to launch the new strain in Pennsylvania’s official dispensaries.
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AI posted a reminder to fans about the event on Instagram. He shared a picture of his understated travel fashion with his 14.4 million followers, captioning, “Philly on my way Home!”
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READ MORE: ‘Hurt’ Allen Iverson, Who Serenaded Bitter Lesson on Michael Jordan, Still Mulls Over 1997’s Pain
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Iverson and Harrington are hoping to entertain a huge crowd of fans at the launch. It will be at Philadelphia’s newest RISE location in Port Richmond, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Labor Day.
Allen Iverson’s nod to Philly
Allen Iverson has long vouched for the normalization of plant products, touting its benefits. That led to his collaboration with Al Harrington and Viola. While Iverson abstains from it after a certain experience, he does promote it. And he believes Harrington is doing much in this space.
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The Iverson Collection is not only dedicated to AI but also a nod to the Philadelphia 76ers. They released the first strain, Iverson ’96, the year the Sixers selected him in the 1996 draft, in 2021. They followed it with the release of the Iverson ’01, the year he won the NBA MVP Award also while with the Sixers.
The Iverson ’01 indica dominant hybrid will be available in RISE medical dispensaries following the launch and meet-and-greet. Only those with legal medical cards can purchase the Iverson strain.