Allen Iverson is a legendary player not only for the Philadelphia 76ers, but for the NBA as a whole. Standing at just 6-feet tall, the No. 1 pick in the 1996 draft made his presence known right away as he averaged 23.5 points as a rookie on his way to Rookie of the Year honors.
Iverson won MVP in 2001 as he led Philadelphia to its last finals appearance and led the league in scoring four times. He was an 11-time All-Star, a 3-time steals champion, and a member of both the NBA's 75th anniversary team and the Hall of Fame. He averaged 26.7 points and 6.2 assists across his 14 years in the league for the Sixers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies.
HoopsHype ranked the top 20 shooting guards in the history of the NBA and Iverson takes the No. 4 spot behind Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade:
A cultural icon as well as one of the best lead guards of his era, Allen Iverson has to be one of the most ridiculously explosive athletes the sport has ever seen, especially out of a player generously listed at 6-feet tall. Iverson’s crossover was devastating (just ask Jordan), and his bombastic style as a scorer made for thrilling viewing throughout his prime. Iverson was one of the most influential players ever, both on and off the court was one of the most exciting players to watch and in his prime. He could really score with the best of them in such an unorthodox package.
Iverson and the Sixers will always be synonymous with each other. His No. 3 jersey hangs from the rafters at the Xfinity Mobile Arena and he has given Philadelphia a boatload of memories they can look back on. His impact on both the Sixers and the NBA cannot be understated.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers legend Allen Iverson ranked 4th-best shooting guard in history