Allen Iverson Bares Little in Requisite John Thompson Sitdown

You wouldn't expect legendary former Georgetown coach John Thompson to open volley in a sitdown interview for NBA.com with new Sixer Allen Iverson. Thompson is rarely critical in these set pieces (usually delivered on during NBA on TNT action), and considering Iverson is practically a son to the coach, you knew this would be fluff from the words "roll cameras."

But when the first question from Thompson is, "When was the last time you did something wrong? Did you rob somebody?" ... well, the willful ignoring of reality is just too silly to let pass. In the interview, Thompson repeatedly set Iverson up to easily avoid the real issues surrounding his rise and fall and (maybe) rise again as a Sixer.

The criticism of Iverson has not been focused on whether Iverson is a bad person. I do happen to think he's been unfairly maligned through his career, by those outside the game who detest his image and those inside the game who detest his style. But the issues now have nothing to do with that. No one is on TV or the web saying Iverson robbed someone. The reason Iverson is having so much trouble getting positive publicity is because he has been a problematic teammate for the past 12 months, with the most egregious and public incident happening just weeks ago.

That's what makes this exchange (which you can view at NBA.com) so mindblowing.

Thompson: "I get the impression from listening to folks that you're whining or you're moaning or he's complaining. Where is this stuff coming from? You're not a cry-baby. I know that from the child-abuse I gave you (at Georgetown). "

Iverson: "I don't know. I guess it comes with the coming off the bench thing. All I want to do is play. From my experience in basketball, no guy was given a job in training camp anyway. You've got to earn it. I don't want anybody to give me (anything). I've earned everything that I've accomplished in my life. As far as playing time and being a starter, I think I've deserved it."

Thompson: "You want someone to beat you (by) playing?"

Iverson: "Exactly, that's all I ever asked. Just let the guy in front of me or the guy that I'm fighting with over position to beat me out. I don't have a problem with that."

Thompson: "What adjustments does a coach have to make to coach Allen Iverson?"

Iverson: "None at all. Give me an assignment. Tell me what you want me to do out on the basketball court to help us win and that's what I can do."

OK, let's go with a hypothetical. Let's say a coach -- we'll call him "Lionel Hollins" -- gives Iverson an assignment: come off the bench behind Mike Conley. He says, "Allen, you're coming off the bench." That is what the coach wants Iverson to do out on the basketball court. How would Iverson respond to this?

Well, according to a report by Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski, he'd say:

Sources say Iverson started to speak louder and louder about how he had played for one dumb bleeping coach in Detroit a year ago, and now had come to play for another dumb bleeping coach in Memphis.

No one is saying Iverson is a criminal, or is a bad player. He was clearly the best free agent on the market, and that -- plus the availiability of a starting position in Louis Williams's absence -- is why Philadelphia signed him. The risk of Iverson blowing up on Eddie Jordan as he did Hollins is mitigated by the fact there's no one for Iverson to compete with, Iverson's relationship with the fans of the Sixers, his ability to sell tickets at Wachovia, and the fact that he agreed to a non-guaranteed deal, which the Sixers can shred by Jan. 10 if things don't turn out. No one but Philadelphia wanted Iverson because no one else has the absolutely perfect conditions that his ego demands.

It's bad enough that Iverson still can't see that his attitude toward coaches and his teammates is the problem. But that Thompson, who I have no doubt cares deeply about Iverson's career and personal well-being, refuses to even nod toward reality in this supposedly serious sitdown interview sits right at the crux of the situation: Iverson refuses to accept reality and take responsibility for his problems, and those around him feed that delusion.

I hope he fills up Wachovia and scores 30 a night, because I love watching Iverson play and the fans of Philadelphia deserve a great performer who plays his heart out. But A.I. needs to stop denying his role in his own public crumbling.