The Philadelphia 76ers' famous player Allen Iverson, once spoke about his most daunting time in the NBA. Back in his first year
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The Philadelphia 76ers’ famous player Allen Iverson, once spoke about his most daunting time in the NBA. Back in his first year 1996-97, a seasoned pro took him by surprise. Iverson gave an interview on “The Big Podcast with Shaq” talking about who scared him in his early days. Shaquille O’Neal confessed his fear about playing against Michael Jordan. Iverson, remembered his initial game playing Kevin Johnson of the Phoenix Suns. That was what he remembered most clearly from his initial NBA times.
Iverson will always remember that first game against Kevin Johnson. He realized they had the same quickness on the court. However, Johnson’s skill level and sneaky moves were just too good for him. Iverson can’t forget how Johnson’s secret plays and clever moves crushed him. This led to Iverson feeling very vulnerable after the game. Johnson scored a whopping 36 points got nine rebounds and had nine assists. It was so impressive that Iverson cried postgame. Johnson in that first game against Iverson had the upper hand. This event was on February 26, 1997, during his starter year. Johnson’s Suns won, 111-104. However, Iverson didn’t shine only scoring eight points grabbing two rebounds allowing six assists and a below-average shooting spree of 20%. It went down as one of his rookie year’s less impressive games.
Johnson put Iverson in his place. But he bounced back. He grabbed the 1997 Rookie of the Year award and was a scoring machine chalking up 23.5 points on average every game in his rookie season. He wasn’t just a scorer he assisted rebounded stole and shot three-pointers too. It laid out a path for future fame and sealed his name as a top scorer in NBA history. To wrap things up, Iverson wasn’t shy to say who frightened him most showing us that even great athletes face mental and emotional hurdles. Johnson’s clever control over him left its mark but it just pumped him up for victory.
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