Denver-October 1: Allen Iverson #3 of the Denver Nuggets poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day at the Pepsi Center on October 1, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mondatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/ NBAE via Getty Images)
Bart Young
Stephen A. Smith made a lot of noise last week when he reported Iverson has a drinking problem, so he has gone back to that well to mention there is a gambling problem, too.
Allen Iverson is in trouble, folks, deep trouble. The combination of alcohol and gambling - and a once-promising career in tatters because of the first two - won’t culminate in anything short of disaster if help does not arrive in short order.
If numerous NBA sources are telling the truth -- and there’s no reason to believe they’d do otherwise in a situation of this magnitude -- Iverson will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away.
Separating fact from fiction in a world of anonymous sources can be hard. Who knows exactly what details are correct.
But this much is clear from basic observation -- Iverson’s life is disintegrating around him. Both NBA teams he was with -- both with young, impressionable players they want to build around -- pushed him out the door. His wife has filed for divorce. He has a very sick daughter.
It’s a sad thing to see.