Iverson talks a good game (originally published June 27, 1996) As sound bites go, Allen Iverson was made for talk radio. Less than 15 minutes after the 76ers made him the No. 1 pick in last night's NBA draft at the Meadowlands, the 6-foot guard from Georgetown was already filling it up. A few samples: * ``They won't be sorry.'' * ``There are tough fans everywhere. I don't care if they're rooting for me or against me.'' * ``I hope I'm the missing piece. I think I'm capable of making a lot of things happen.'' * ``I expect to win. I don't think it's going to take a lot of time for us to get started.'' * ``I know with [the addition] of myself, we can make a lot of noise in the league.'' * ``It's the start of a new era.'' You think he's confident? The Sixers can only hope his game lives up to the gab. Most of the so-called experts don't see that as a problem. The Sixers need a lot of things. One of them is a lead guard. In his two collegiate seasons, Iverson showed he can handle the role. The Sixers are also moving into a new building, and need to sell some tickets. Iverson can do that, too. When he went to Georgetown, the USAir Arena was a quiet place. By the time he left, the joint was hopping. Did someone mention savior? And wasn't that what was said about Jerry Stackhouse, whom the Sixers took with the No. 3 pick a year ago? Together, maybe they can make a difference. After all, last season proved that one franchise choice isn't enough. Still, Iverson seems genuinely excited by those Dynamic Duo possibilities in the backcourt. In fact, he was pretty upbeat about the entire roster situation. Maybe he doesn't know the Sixers won 18 times last season, or 11 fewer than the Hoyas, who played 45 less games. ``I think [Stackhouse] is a great player,'' said Iverson, who averaged 25 points a game as a sophomore. ``So is [Clarence] Weatherspoon, and Derrick Coleman. They have a lot of talent on that team.'' He also likes the new coach. ``Johnny Davis . . . isn't loud, but he gets his point across,'' Iverson said. There are those who felt the Sixers should have taken Georgia Tech's Stephon Marbury. More of a ``pure'' point guard, they reasoned. But Iverson deflected that one in about the same three seconds it takes him to go the length of the court. ``The position has changed so much over the years,'' said Iverson, who looked very stylish in a gray suit, black-and-white print tie, and all the proper silver and gold finishing touches. ``A lot of NBA point guards do a lot of scoring, when their team needs it. They have to be versatile. I think I can do a lot of things on the floor. ``I think I'll be very comfortable. I love to play the game so much. When I step out there, it's all about business. ``I'm going to try to be the floor leader. I can distribute the ball to all the great scorers they have there. I don't have to look to shoot as much. But other than that, I'm basically going to play the same game.'' And that game, when it ignites, is a highlight reel in the making, certainly worthy of the top selection. Marbury might be an All-Star at this level. Iverson could be a Hall of Famer. Just ask him. And that's not meant as a negative. ``I'm going to play every game like it's my last, and I think the fans will respect that,'' said Iverson, whose lone predraft workout was for the Sixers. ``The attitude that coach Davis and the rest of the staff has is they want to win. As long as the guys on the team understand that, we can get a lot done. ``In college, you don't play as much as you want to. In the pros, it's night in and night out, and that's the way I want it. I would play every night if I had to. ``They just want me to play my game. They'd be crazy to think I would come in and try to take all of the shots like I did at Georgetown.'' Yeah, he'll distribute, play defense, be an example, make everyone around him better. But if the situation arises, don't be surprised to see him light up the scoreboard, either. ``I definitely want to be a great player when I leave the NBA,'' Iverson said, matter-of-factly. ``I like having the weight on my shoulders. But it'll be different in the pros. There are other guys who are capable of stepping it up big time. That's going to make it so much easier for me.  ``I don't think I've got to get Derrick Coleman to play. I'm not going to change any part of my game. But I'm still going to keep everybody happy. All year, I've showcased my talent. This is where I want to be.'' It's a long way from the Virginia institution in which he served four months for his part in a bowling-alley brawl. The conviction, which cost him his senior season of high school, was later overturned. You survive an experience like that, why would a little matter such as salvaging an organization faze you? ``There's pressure, but it's on everybody,'' Iverson said. ``In life, anything's capable of happening. It seems like yesterday I was coming into Georgetown. Coach [John] Thompson has prepared me well for the road I'm headed to. ``I've been through so much. It's a tribute to the people who stuck with me through the rough times. I feel like some people will always be against me. If I can accept the praise, I can accept the criticism. ``This team had Doc [Julius Erving], and [Charles] Barkley. They've had great teams. We're going to try to bring that back.'' Next question?		Author Mike Kern   Source Daily News   Return to Articles