When looking back on Allen Iverson‘s Hall of Fame career, one of the few blemishes was his disappointing run with Team USA at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
The Americans finished a very unlikely 5-3 in competition, losing to Argentina in the semifinals and ultimately edging out Lithuania to claim the Bronze medal.
A backcourt composed of Iverson and Stephon Marbury received much of the blame as the team was seen as selfish and adamant to score through isolation.
In a team that lacked the likes of scoring champion Tracy McGrady, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Kidd, the USA resorted to other players to fill out the roster.
“That was a very touchy situation for me because when everybody didn’t end up going, me and Tim Duncan went,” Iverson told Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
“We went to represent our country. That’s no shot at the guys that didn’t go. I totally understand why they didn’t. I totally understand and all of them remain my friends. I still have the utmost respect for all of those guys. But me and Tim went.”
Despite having one of his best NBA seasons during the 2007-08 campaign, scoring 26.4 points and dishing 7.1 assists per game in his second season with the Denver Nuggets, Iverson was not invited to join the next Olympic roster.
“As great as a season as I had, arguably one of the best seasons that I ever had, I wasn’t invited to go,. That’s something that I wouldn’t say hurt me to this day, but the acknowledgment is there,” said Allen Iverson.
“And the hurt will always exist because I felt that I truly should have been a part of the team. I should obviously be saying that I have a gold medal at 41 years old.”
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