The last few years have been rough on the legacy of Allen Iverson. I just hope people everywhere and young people who missed him in his prime don't forget how good this guy really was.

There weren't guys like this before him. That's all you really need to know about Iverson. There were little guys like Spud Webb or Muggsy Bogues that made huge impacts in the league, but nothing quite like Iverson did. He went number one overall coming out of Georgetown. It was noticeable very early on that he just had this touch around the hoop. He could change hands mid air, absorb contact and still lay it in. He was a tough son of a bitch, being so undersized for this league. He took a beating night in and night out yet still found ways to win games and score points.

He won Rookie of the Year in 1996-97 averaging 23.5ppg 7.5apg and 2.1apg. He was an 11 time All Star. Three times he made All NBA First Team, and three times he made second team. Also three times he lead the league in steals, while he lead the league in scoring four times. He won two All Star game MVP's and in 2001 he took home league MVP, after leading the 76ers to a 56-26 record. That year he posted a then best 31.1ppg and 2.5 steals per game. At 6' 165lbs he became the shortest and lightest guy to ever win MVP. Also that year he navigated the 76ers through the Eastern Conference Playoffs to reach the NBA Finals, only to lose to the Lakers, but they were an underdog.

It's amazing he was as great as he was for the length of time he was. Being so small his game should have fell off after half a dozen years or so, instead Iverson averaged 20+ a night for his first twelve seasons. He posted 30+ a night four seasons in his career including 33ppg, his career best, in his final full season with Philadelphia.

A lot of people remember him as a thug, or at least as a trouble maker, someone you wouldn't want on your team. But you can't forget about how great he was all those years for the 76ers and early in Denver. He was an offensive machine unlike anything we've ever really seen. Now we have far more small two guards because of Iverson, but none anywhere nearly as good. They probably wouldn't be where they are today if it weren't for him.

So instead of remembering Allen for the bowling alley incident or how much of a dick he seemed at times. Let's not forget how much fun he was to watch. Let's not forget that he was brought into this world by a 15 year old single mom and managed to make something of himself. Let's not be so quick to shit on him. Let's remember him for being the first of his kind, a guy that paved the way for guys like Kemba Walker, Monta Ellis, and so many more. He was a true great and I would really like to see him land one final NBA gig. I think he could still score.