A regular season MVP, four-time scoring champion, and seven-time All-Star, Iverson never knew what it felt like to be rejected. But the "answer" did not escape the blow in the end - his invitation to apply for the Beijing Olympics was rejected.
"Answer" Good intentions are not rewarded
If you consider Iverson's words and deeds in the "Dream Six" team, he should be a lifelong member of the US team. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, the USA Basketball Association sent invitations to major superstars, but most of the answers from the Basketball Association were only one: NO. O'Neal won't go, Kobe said no, Garnett, Carter, Tracy McGrady, Kidd, Allen, O'Neal Jr., Martin, Malone, Brand, it's too long, let me take a breath, Hamilton and Ben Wallace are all here Shake his head. Only Iverson is loyal, he is willing, you can even say, he is happy. Regardless of the previous feud with Brown on the 76ers, he and Duncan joined forces as the double captains of the United States and went to Athens.
In that trip, Iverson’s teammates, James, Anthony, and Wade are all big names in the United States now, but at that time, as their rookie season, they had no idea about the international competition represented by Argentina. Thick handle style. The team's average age of 23.6 also created the lowest average age since the United States selected professional basketball players to participate in the Olympics. Moreover, from the time the team gathered to go to Athens, the "Dream Six" only conducted 15 joint training sessions and 6 performance games. The result was three losses in eight games in Athens and only a bronze medal. Iverson averaged 13.8 points per game and became the team's scoring leader. You can imagine how poor the US team's staffing is. Marion, James, Anthony, Wade, Stoudemire and other current influential figures were completely useless in Athens in 2004. As for Duncan, due to his introverted personality, he could not be the spiritual leader of the US team. During the whole period in Athens, he spent all his energy cursing the FIBA ??referees who did not respect him. Among the "Dream Six" team, only Iverson cherishes the stars and stripes shirt he wears the most. "Participating in the Olympics is a dream come true. You have to understand the opportunities that the country gives you, and you have to do something to repay the country. As the captain, I It is recommended that every player cherish the honor of being selected for the national team and be grateful for this honor."
The United States lost to Argentina in the semifinals, and before the third or fourth place finals were played, Iverson began to look forward to representing the team again in 2008. Opportunities for the United States to march. On January 4, 2006, the 76ers visited Phoenix, and Iverson asked Colangelo in person. The scene at that time, recounted by Colangelo, was very touching, "I liked the look in his eyes, it was a kind of yearning. He told me face to face, 'It is an honor for him to be selected for the US team.'"
But a year and a half later, what did the American Basketball Association give to the former team captain Iverson who had helped him? The invitation letter issued by the United States Olympic Committee to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics U.S. basketball team was sent two weeks ago, but Iverson has not received it yet. This phenomenon also shows that "Answer" wants to serve the motherland. Failed. The former captain was not selected for the national team not because of lack of strength, but because the team no longer needed him. Iverson, who suffered a tragic fate in the NBA, received the same treatment as God in the national team.
Mengqi no longer needs Iverson
Iverson could not enter the national team. Cheeks, the head coach of the 76ers at the time, was also shocked, "I can't change this. The result, but no matter what, he is definitely a top 10 player in this league. "Iverson's personal ability ranks among the top 10 in the NBA. This is an undisputed fact. But the reality is this. The Dream Team would rather have Ridorno than Iverson. Iverson could only say helplessly: "Now, I can hold my baby in the summer."
However, the current US team is no longer a concentration camp for superstars. In 1992, Daly served as a puppet coach and led 11 NBA superstars and 1 NCAA top star to the Barcelona Olympics. Jordan, Pippen, "Magic" Johnson, and "Big Bird" Bird gathered together, so Daley once joked that his players were all "personal Fortune 500 companies." But just ten years later, Americans discovered that the idea of ??letting 12 flowers conquer the world didn't work.
At the Athens Olympics, the U.S. team made 44 three-pointers in eight games in one day, ranking last among the 12 participating teams, and the number of three-pointers made The rate, 31.4%, ranks second to last, even worse than Angola. If NBA players are not familiar with FIBA ??rules as an excuse, it does not hold water. Argentinian guard Sanchez has played for four NBA teams. "The Americans also play zone defense. Our three-pointers are accurate, so they switch to man-to-man shooting. But when we play zone defense against them, their three-pointers are accurate." Can’t make a shot. What does this have to do with the rules?”
Whether it’s the NBA or FIBA, winning requires flowers and green leaves to help each other. For the Beijing Olympics, the senior Colangelo's team-building philosophy was to "give priority to pitchers, players with team basketball concepts to give priority, star players and role players to complement each other, internal and external players to match, and support a few stars of hope."
As for rejecting Iverson, Old K never had a suitable reason, but he emphasized: "I carefully selected everyone on this list. What we care about is not a certain star, but a certain star. It is a united team. I believe that the current lineup is the best American men’s basketball team.”
Old K himself is a coach who advocates collective basketball and hates individual heroism. The answer can be found in the temperament and tradition of the Duke school team over the years, and can also be seen in the plot of when he said no to the Lakers coach in 2004. You must know how much firm belief and courage it takes to reject the Lakers coaching seal - a scepter that many basketball stars covet. But there is no doubt that Old K is not Phil Jackson or Larry Brown. He will not be born in a team where personal heroism is rampant for money. Therefore, the issue of individual or collective "rectification movement" became the first thing Lao K burned after he came to power.
However, why should the fire burn on Iverson’s head alone? Why take surgery on Iverson? In any case, it seems unkind to abandon a boy who is loyal to protect the country in such an extreme way. Moreover, if Old K's so-called emphasis on team and not on stars is used as a reason to reject Iverson, it is obviously too far-fetched - Kobe and James, are they more selfless in their play or have better assist statistics than Iverson?
Only Iverson would be heartbroken if he failed to be selected for the Dream Team, and only if he was abandoned could he cause an uproar, just like only the most devout believers who were exiled could perform an epic that touched all sentient beings.
The Dream Six of that year was due to the fact that the big-name NBA stars used various unreasonable reasons to shirk joining the Dream Team and not play for the country. Only Iverson stepped forward, still suffering from injuries and injuries. Another superstar, Duncan, led a group of second-rate players at the time, which resulted in a disastrous defeat. At that time, only Iverson's perseverance on the court won the respect of the world, but after returning home, everyone blamed him for the failure.
This time, in order to kill the individualism of these superstars, Old K had no choice but to use Iverson, the most maverick in the world, to show the importance of the team, and only those who wanted to serve the country. Only when Iverson was turned away would he be heartbroken, only then would it cause an uproar in public opinion, and only then would all the team members be shocked by the dream of team supremacy. It's a pity that Iverson, who was full of fighting spirit and wanted to play with all his heart, failed to be selected for this dream team.
In fact, it’s okay not to come. It’s just a good time to take advantage of the summer to recuperate from all his injuries. After all, the injuries of this immortal god of war are too disturbing