Guess Who Is Practicing?

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">July 4, 2004
If the 76ers rookies and free agents felt that summer workouts got ratcheted up a notch in intensity on Sunday, maybe it was because Allen Iverson took part in the workouts.

Iverson played the entire workout and then shot around afterward as he continued to get into shape for the Olympics and the coming season.

?The main purpose of me coming here (was to) get some workouts before I go to the Olympics,? Iverson told Comcast SportsNet. ?(I want to) try to get as much running as I can get in. Try to get in here and help Coach with the young guys and not feel like I?m getting real old. I am like the oldest guy in here.?

Iverson, who missed a career high 34 games this year, had not played since March 20 and was officially shut down for the remainer of the season on March 30.

?It?s fun just getting back into it. When you don?t play the game for a while and then you are able to play it again, it?s kind of like a kid in the candy store. You kind of forget what you have been missing, not playing the game,? Iverson said. ?And just to come in here and play with these young guys, was special to me because I know I make them get up and play hard and they do the same thing to me. The one thing about young guys, they don?t want to get showed up by other guys.?

While the players may have been surprised to see Iverson, Head Coach Jim O?Brien was not.

?He told us he was going to try to get some work in prior to going to the Olympics. It was great,? O?Brien said. ?We had a good practice. I think he got up and down the court and found out where he is from a conditioning standpoint. It was a good practice.?

Iverson is looking forward to putting his injury filled 2003-04 season behind him and get the 76ers back into the playoffs.

?It?s just another challenge in my life. Another obstacle,? Iverson said. ?You know, I?ve been through a lot in my life, and I?ve been through a lot of things worse than basketball. Basketball has never been a problem for me. I?ve had ups and downs, as you well know in my career, but that?s just a part of the game, a part of the business, that?s a part of growing up. Making mistakes and trying to overcome them and not making that mistake twice. I am defiantly looking forward to having a better season than I did last year. I want the team to have a better season, and I am just approaching everything positive. With all the talking and all the negative things going on, I am going to approach everything positive.?

?Our veterans were not thrilled, you know Willie (Green) and Kyle (Korver), it was good to have them together, but certainly the guys not under NBA contracts certainly didn?t expect to be playing with Iverson on the court,? O?Brien said. ?So, it was a good experience for them. It?s good from a standpoint of him starting to recognize things that we?re going to try to do. It was a very, very productive day.?

As for the Olympics, while the 2004 USA Senior Men?s Basketball team has gone through a makeover with a number of marquee players pulling out for a variety of reasons including security concerns, Iverson is set on going.

?For me not to participate in that, it would be a bad thing for me, just in my heart because only a few are selected for it,? Iverson said. ?I don?t worry about anything happening to me. I feel like my life is in God?s hands and as long as that?s the case, then I feel like I?ll be alright.?

But before the Olympics start in August, Iverson is just looking to get his conditioning back.

?I am not in the greatest shape because I have not been playing as much,? Iverson admitted. ?I spent a lot of time rehabbing my knee, and getting in as much weight training as I can. That?s just been the toughest part of my summer, just trying to get in condition and lifting without running up and down the court. But I am heeled, everything feels fine, and I am just ready to go to work.?</div>

Well for all you people who say AI doesnt practice anymore,you just read it your self.Article is from the Sixers web site.

 

Nice to hear that AI is back on the court.

 

AI practising

 

That's a good thing to hear, it's always great for a veteran to step foot on the court with the lottery pick, and some of the teams younger players.

It's also good to hear that he is working out, and hitting the weights more. Rehabbing his injuries, and whatnot... Though, this is not like Allen at all to tell what he is doing the summer, he usually is low key, so was this done for the media's attention? Is Allen trying to get on their good side because they were on his bad side last year? It's always good to show leadership, but this is not like Allen at all.

 

Now that's something you don't hear so often.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting That NBA Girl:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice to hear that AI is back on the court.</div>

 

I like the whole attitude he's got going on. It also looks like he' going to very determined to turn things around next season. I'm just waiting to see how looks like on that knee of his in the Olympics.

 

I'm shocked to here this, i read it in the Inquiror and almost spilled coffee all over myself. It's good to know that AI is lifting something other than the occasional mixed beverage, maybe he's starting to change for the better

 

Iverson lifted last year as well, and was noted on it, because he talked to Coach Brown about it.

 

yea, but i don't really think he did as much as he talked about. He was too oft injured and lacking in conditioning in the fourth quarters of some games (not all). He needs to go full force with this; eating right, lifting, conditioning, etc...

 

He should have done that a while ago, when he first came into the league. I blame nobody but him for this, he's a grown man, and he is also very small in size playing in a professional sports environment. Of course his body is going to take hits, he needs a personal trainer that is very dedicated to him, and that will remind him of these things, since he seems to forget.

 

Well, you know, you gotta practice...not a game, not a game, not a game...but practice. I love hearing that, cracks me up.

 

I don't beleave it! Maybe his attitude has changed now that he now this is going to be a fresh start for him with a new coach. (I don't know how it wasn't a fresh start last year but who cares.) Maybe AI finally realize that he has to be the leader of this team and yes the leaders have to go to PRACTICE...even MVP's have to go to PRACTICE, Even the scoring champs have to go to PRACTICE......

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Courtking031:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't beleave it! Maybe his attitude has changed now that he now this is going to be a fresh start for him with a new coach. (I don't know how it wasn't a fresh start last year but who cares.) Maybe AI finally realize that he has to be the leader of this team and yes the leaders have to go to PRACTICE...even MVP's have to go to PRACTICE, Even the scoring champs have to go to PRACTICE......</div>

Don't think he changed that much. The only reason why he decided to attend practice was to prepare himself the Olympics.

 

Seriously, you all are getting this way out of proportion. It was one practice, and we're already talking about fresh starts, new leadership, etc. It's crazy.