The Philadelphia 76ers’ 2003-04 campaign was a rough one, for both the franchise and its marquee star, Allen Iverson. For a minute, it felt as if the Sixers would compete for the Larry O’Brien trophy after falling short in the 2001 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the team soon discovered that their perceived standing in the league was far from the truth.
The following two seasons saw the Sixers experience early postseason exits, which led to head coach Larry Brown being fired in May 2003, replaced by former NBA champion-turned-head coach Chris Ford. And while Iverson and Brown had their fair share of clashes, they had also forged an unbreakable bond, one that the former and Ford obviously didn’t have.
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Ford was a stickler for rules
Throughout his six-year stint with the Sixers, Brown had already learned how to walk the tightrope that was coaching Iverson. Yes, it was likely he was going to be late for practice or not even attend sometimes, but come gametime, it was certain the Answer would put his body on the line to try and give his team the victory.
While Brown prioritized instilling discipline within his team, he recognized that unlocking Iverson’s full potential required a more flexible approach. Rather than addressing every misstep, he chose to grant Iverson some leeway, understanding that this balance was key to maximizing his talent.
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However, it soon became apparent that Ford didn’t have the same leniency that Brown had.
“In 2004, Chris Ford, the new coach of the 76ers, gave the players the team rules: If they were going to be late, all they had to do was call him personally. You can still play, but you don’t start,” Philadelphia reporter Phil Jasner recalled.
At that time, Iverson had been battling injuries, but intended to return to action in a game against the Detroit Pistons in March 2004. As he took the court and warmed up, he assumed he would start despite missing several games. Ford, though, had other ideas.
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“Chris wasn’t willing to look past that,” Jasner continued. “He said, ‘We’ll do it as we have done.'”
This meant that yes, Iverson would get to play, and no, he would not start. As soon as he was informed of this development, Allen blew a gasket, furious at being used as a reserve when he had started in every game he suited up for during his entire career.
So, instead of playing as he had initially planned, Iverson decided to skip that game. And he not only sat on the bench, A.I. made a statement that would soon mark the beginning of the end of his tenure in the City of Brotherly Love.
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“He did not dress for the game. Instead, he sat at the end of the bench in a throwback Kareem jersey,” Jasner said of that game, which the Sixers lost, 85-69. “At one point, he was eating nachos. It totally embarrassed the franchise.”
A.I. was tired of losing
After that game, Iverson didn’t hold back, expressing his frustration and sense of disrespect over Ford’s decision to relegate him to a bench role.
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“I don’t know any franchise players that come off the bench. I don’t know any Olympian that come off the bench, any All-Star that come off the bench, any former MVP that come off the bench,” Iverson said in an impassioned rant to the media. “Why Allen Iverson?”
The Sixers went 33-49 that season and missed the playoffs by a mile. Although they would return to the postseason during the 2005-06 campaign, they couldn’t make it past the first round. The following season, Iverson’s colorful 76ers’ stint ended after he was sent to the Denver Nuggets for a package bannered by Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.
Iverson’s unapologetic nature, which endeared him to both players and fans, ultimately contributed to his decline in Philadelphia and subsequent teams later in his career. Allen’s refusal to accept a diminished role, despite his declining skills and health, caused friction with coaches and front offices, resulting in a sad end to an iconic player’s legacy.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.