Sometimes it might be hard to believe, but regardless of how big stars they are, NBA players are people too, who admire others as well.
Take Allen Iverson, for instance.
During his peak, Iverson was probably one of the biggest celebrities in the NBA. The undersized guard was tough, talented and he had swagger. That’s why listening to him gush about Michael Jackson is both funny and at the same time, refreshing.
In an episode of the Knuckleheads Podcast hosted by former NBA players Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles, The Answer spoke about his love for The King of Pop and why he was glad that he never got to meet his idol.
“I’m the biggest Michael Jackson fan. I never met Mike and I’m happy about that,” Iverson said. “I never wanted to see Mike because I saw his brother one time and I was about to pass out. I seen Marlon [Jackson] and I was about to pass out and he is his brother, so I know I might have passed out if I would have seen him.”
Miles and Q-Rich were laughing as Iverson was telling the story and it was understandable because it was quite funny to hear somebody of Iverson’s status and reputation admit to being a massive fan of Jackson.
In the same interview, A.I. also shared that former teammate Carmelo Anthony would often get annoyed at Iverson for blasting Jackson’s music.
“I played with Melo and Melo knows I listened to Mike before games. He used to always get mad, like ‘Chuck, play something else.’ I’m the vet, I play what I wanna play in here and I’m playing Mike. That’s what gets me ready for games,” he explained.
The link between basketball and Jackson
While Jackson wasn’t known to be a massive hoops fan, nor was he one of the stars that were often seen courtside during games, he did have quite a few links to the game.
Perhaps the most obvious example is Michael Jordan’s appearance in the music video for Jackson’s 1992 hit single “Jam.” Shot in Chicago, the music video shows the two Jordans playing a little one-on-one and having a dance battle.
Another NBA icon, Magic Johnson, had a small role in the music video of Jackson’s other 1992 hit single Remember The Time, where Johnson played an Egyptian guard.
There were also other NBA players who shared stories of their interactions with the iconic musician, like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hooping with a young Jackson and Kobe calling him a mentor.
Iverson is an icon himself
Iverson may be the fan in this story, but he himself is a massive icon in his own right.
A former MVP, 11-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA and Hall of Fame inductee, Iverson revolutionized basketball in the early 2000s, sparking a movement of players with toughness and swagger.
Standing at just six feet, Iverson showed that even the little guys could dominate and paved the way for players like Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry.
The Answer was also unapologetically true to himself, and he let his personality shine on and off the court, whether it be with his clothes, his braids, or his tattoos. Many people would argue that it was Iverson who made extravagant dressing cool in the NBA.
While Iverson didn’t win a ring in his career, he remains one of the most respected players in the history of the game and it can be argued that his legacy is one of the few that aren’t defined by his inability to win a title.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 15, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.