The impact in which Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson had on sports is undeniable. The heart he played with on a nightly basis and the energy he brought against some of the league’s giants such as Shaquille O’Neal or Yao Ming.
Iverson took home MVP awards, All-Star appearances, scoring titles, and led the Sixers on deep playoff runs on his bony shoulders to get the job done. Leading the Sixers to the finals in 2001 is the last time the franchise has been past Round 2 and he did it while being his authentic self the entire time which endeared him to everybody who watched him and wanted to embody him.
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In fact, there is a player who has his namesake. Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Iverson Allen who was named after the Hall of Fame guard due to his father’s affinity for the Sixers legend.
In an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Alex Coffey, the Pirates’ Iverson discussed his name as his father was a basketball player:
“They both gave 100 percent,” Allen said. “They both gave everything for their team. The way my father played is very similar to Allen [Iverson]. The energy, the movement, the dribbling.”
For the Pirates’ sake, they hope their version of Iverson will help them turn things around and move forward in the National League.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Pirates prospect Iverson Allen discusses Sixers legend’s impact