He came up with the New Move featured in his last Reebok commercial by "messing around" in his basement. "I knew it was something the kids would just bug out over, you know? When I go to the park and I see kids out there trying to do it, it's just wild. When I started playing basketball, I just wanted to do something spectacular. Now, I brought my playground game into the league. People want to criticize me, but that's how I learned to play." It's obvious that Iverson does what he has to do to help his team win. When you think about it, that's how he lived the earlier part of his life -doing what had to be done so he and his family could survive. Think about it, how many times have you jokingly said you were "starving" just before you sat down to dinner? Now imagine saying and actually feeling that way and having nothing to eat. No electricity. No hot water. His dreams, back then, were just to fulfill his family's basic needs. This part of Allen's life, the part he lived in poverty, helped shape him and make him the kind of player and person he is. This is the part of his life that should be considered when he does his crossover in the face of athletes who have been in the league six times longer than he has.
Allen will constantly refuse to back down from those who get in between him and the basket."I get criticized because I score more than the average point guard in this league. But that's just the way it is now with point guards scoring.

There were times in the Finals when players known for passing, utilized the mismatches, and shot the ball." the Co-Captain offers, "People didn't criticize them because their names are already established. That's something I have to earn. I think respect comes with winning. If I can win with the style that I play, it will be all right. I have to show the people who believe in me that they're right for believing in me. Criticism just comes with the territory," the twenty-three year old says, waving it off, "It's something else I have to hear and use to my advantage. I will remember the names of the people that wrote negative things about me so I can mention them when that time comes for me to hold that championship trophy." It seems Allen Iverson represents the misrepresented because Allen Iverson is the misrepresented. On his journey through the ranks, some have made him out to be a bad guy. An incorrect reputation which often, unfortunately, precedes him. The truth, however, reveals a man more complex.

I don't want people to think that I'm some out of control kid who doesn't know which way he's headed," he answers when given the opportunity to squash misinformation, "I also don't want people thinking that I'm a bad person, or that I'm all about everything that's negative. Thats not me. It hurts because my family knows I'm not like that. My friends know I'm not like that. I think there are going to be people who love me and people who hate me. You can't satisfy everybody, not in this world we live in. But if I can accept the praise, I can accept the criticism."
Iverson has four new tattoos on his arms to surround the first tat which proclaims him "The Answer." One of them reads: The Strong Survive. He could be next to sit on the league's throne based on pure will alone. Add in the fact that he craves the challenge and wants to show and prove, and consider the gauntlet thrown. "...that's not something I want the media to give me. I want to take it!" he says excitedly when talking about the title, "When I hear who they're going to give it to I just smile, because I can't wait. I know they don't want me to be that man, but I'm going to take it. That's just another obstacle I have to jump to show the people that they can believe in me." And to let the people know it's okay to dream.