17-05-2025
Kyle Korver said Sixers players were desperate for Allen Iverson to leave the team in 2006: "We want it to be over… just want to move on"
For much of 2006, the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves in a tough spot. The reason? The relationship between the NBA franchise and its iconic star, Allen Iverson, seemed beyond repair.
Unsurprisingly, whispers quickly became headlines as reporters covered every development, fueling near-daily speculation about A.I.'s future. That heightened media attention wasn't just hard on those directly involved — it also weighed heavily on the rest of the Sixers roster. Kyle Korver spoke openly about it.
The slow breakup
When Korver addressed the press in December that year, it was already clear that Iverson's days with the 76ers were numbered.
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It's hard to say exactly when the over-ten-year relationship broke down completely, but one thing is clear: tensions had been growing for quite a while.
One early sign came a few months earlier. In April 2006, Iverson and Chris Webber arrived late to the team's fan appreciation night and final home game, which led to fines. While anyone can make such a mistake, it showed the growing friction behind the scenes.
Then, in the following offseason, rumors circulated about possible trades sending "The Answer" to teams like the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, or Boston Celtics. Ultimately, no deal happened, and the 2001 MVP made it clear he wanted to stay in Philly. He did — but lasted only 15 more games.
Those games took place early in the 2006-07 NBA season when the Sixers started poorly with five wins and 10 losses. After that, their star player reportedly asked for a trade. Because of this, management first benched A.I., then wanted to part ways.
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Ed Snider, the Sixers' chairman at the time, confirmed this during a televised game against the Washington Wizards, stating, "We're going to trade him. At a certain point, you have to come to grips with the fact that it's not working. He wants out and we're ready to accommodate him."
Related: "A game for sissies" - Wilt Chamberlain admitted he only started playing basketball because he was from Philadelphia
Media circus became a locker room distraction
By the end of 2006, A.I.'s trade was inevitable — only the timing was uncertain. Still, the drawn-out process kept everyone tense, fueling non-stop media frenzy. Stories about "The Answer" had always drawn attention, and this was no different.
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While the media circus made headlines, it frustrated the Sixers' locker room. Players like sharpshooting 6'5" guard Korver grew tired of the constant speculation and distractions from trade rumors.
"We want it to be over. We just want to move on," expressed the future one-time NBA All-Star, per ESPN. "Obviously now Allen [Iverson] is probably going to be traded or is going to be traded, so we just want to move on and not have to have long interviews after shootaround."
The then-Sixers head coach, Maurice Cheeks, echoed this desire for clarity and forward momentum.
"We're just going forward with the people we have and we're trying to win games," he said. "I think our team has been pretty good through all of this."
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At its core, every NBA team needs stability, and uncertainty around a franchise's star player can disrupt everyone involved. Consequently, both Philly and the out-of-favour 6'0" point guard needed a clear decision.
Finally, on December 19, 2006, a resolution arrived. Back then, the Sixers traded Iverson and Ivan McFarlin to the Nuggets. In return, Philadelphia received Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-round picks for the 2007 NBA Draft.
Related: "Sometimes I even think leaving might not be such a bad thing" - Allen Iverson on how trade rumors during his 76ers years emotionally drained him
