Allen Iverson on realizing he had to give up his football dreams: "I would always get emotional, tears coming from my eyes"
Allen Iverson is one of the most decorated combo guards of all time. A former MVP with eleven NBA All-Star appearances, a four-time scoring champion and a member of the Hall of Fame. However, before he ever picked up a basketball seriously, his heart belonged to football.
As a high school athlete, Iverson excelled at basketball and football at Bethel High School, leading his teams to the Virginia State championships. He earned the prestigious Associated Press High School Player of the Year award in both sports.
Iverson's football love
Despite his eventual path to NBA superstardom, Allen's love for football never faded. College only made that realization more painful. At Georgetown University, he always thought about what could have been.
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"We had to walk to the gym every day from class," the NBA legend recalled. "And I always had to pass the football field and I remember going past the football field, I used to always get emotional and tears would be coming out of my eyes because I missed the game so much."
At Bethel High School, Iverson was the heartbeat of the team. He played multiple positions, including running back, kick returner and defensive back, making him an all-around weapon on the field.
His explosiveness, vision and ability to change direction made him nearly impossible to contain. He was also good on the basketball court as the team's starting point guard, showcasing the same agility and quick decision-making that later defined his NBA career.
During his junior year, Iverson put together a historic season, leading both teams to Virginia state titles. Coaches from elite college programs had their eyes on him for football and basketball, but fate had other plans.
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Just months after his legendary high school season, A.I. was involved in a highly publicized altercation at a bowling alley, an incident that led to a controversial conviction.
The legal trouble forced him to complete his senior year at Richard Milburn High School, a program for at-risk students. This meant no more high school football or basketball — for many young athletes, such a disruption could have ended their careers entirely.
Basketball path
However, Georgetown University's legendary coach, John Thompson, saw beyond the controversy and personally met with Iverson to offer him a full scholarship. Without football as an option, he leaned fully into basketball.
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Even after committing to basketball for the Hoyas, Iverson couldn't resist the urge to ask about playing football again.
"One day, I just built enough courage to ask him [Thompson], 'Could I play? And with the language, I don't think I can say [what he told me]," the Hall of Fame guard recalled.
Following his sophomore season, A.I. declared for the 1996 NBA Draft. He was the first player under Thompson to leave Georgetown early for the pros. He was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, officially beginning a legendary career that would redefine the point guard position.
A part of Iverson always wondered what could have been had he pursued football but destiny had other plans. Instead, he became one of basketball's most electrifying and influential figures.
Related: Allen Iverson said the Sixers failed to honor his legacy: "After everything I did for them… I don't think it had to end the way it did"
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