Nov.8 at 2:23 pm

timduncan_rocks100 says:
WOOOO first post.
TImmy D is top 5 thats how it should be
first thing i agree with on this ranking system

Nov.8 at 2:23 pm

Timbo says:
First

Nov.8 at 2:25 pm

Timbo says:
I hate to quote myself and toot my own horn, but in the Steve Nash post yesterday..Yours Truly(myself)..Stated the following(I love when I’m right..yo)…… This is the way it should be… 1. Kobe: Not too far off as far as age with La_Bronzes and Wades, and he has 3 freakin’ rings. Compared to LeBronze 0, and Wade’s one.
2. The Lebrones’: Best all around player in the League. If he had Shaq on his team last year they win the chip simple as that. Period!
3. Wade: Phenom still on the rise. Doesn’t belong on any USA team be it Olympics or WBC..he’s game isn’t fit for that ish.
4. Dirk: 7 footer whom does it all..Well, except block shots..matchup nightmare for dayzz.
5. T.Robot: You say..why not A.I? Well, cuz I’ll take a Hall of Fame big man over a HOF lil guard Any day! Put it like this if you had a team of scrubs, and all you needed was to pick one more player, and the winner of this games get $10 mil dollars..and suddenly Iverson and Duncan walk in the gym, and you have to pick one..Whom do you pick for a shot at $10 mil? Exactly! Case closed!
6. Iverson: Pound for pound the freakin’ toughest cookies in this generation of the association..This kat is suppose to be getting sorrier not still putting up insane numbers at this age..Amazing!

Nov.8 at 2:26 pm

Tony G says:
Duncan better be ahead of Dirk.. big ups to AI..dude has been forgetten..in the shadows of Kobe, Lebron and Wade now..he’s still going strong and he’s a HOFer..

Nov.8 at 2:31 pm

Aska says:
Chuck Daly said it about Zeke, but today it holds true more for A.I. — if he were five or six inches taller, he’d be the greatest player EVER. Six is a decent spot. Eleven years and still going stronger, and better….

Nov.8 at 2:32 pm

Bryant Reeves says:
Every year people say Iverson is going to slow down and begin his decline. Every year Iverson proves them wrong. He is the single toughest mofo in the league. When he retires the league should start a new “Iverson award” for the player that plays the most minutes with the most injuries. If he doesn’t end up in the Hall, there is something very wrong with the NBA.

Nov.8 at 2:38 pm

marcel mutoni says:
bryant reeves, i’m pretty sure if you have a 28ppg career average, it’s pretty tough to keep you out of the hall.

Nov.8 at 2:41 pm

rdp says:
Kobe better be number one. At least one publication can give him the respect he deserves.Slam please dont be on the Wade Lebron hype train like the other guys!

Nov.8 at 2:45 pm

riku says:
don’t forget his all-star performance(2001) with starbury… one of my fave performances of bubbachuck… peace…

Nov.8 at 2:45 pm

Post Up Forums says:
1. LeBron
2. Duncan
3. Kobe
4. Wade
5. Dork

Nov.8 at 2:51 pm

rob stewart says:
“Even on the court we stay fly Jada and A.I. make sure you go get the A 5’s”I’ve been waiting for this for so long. I predicted A.I. at #6 last week. The realest baller out.

Nov.8 at 3:03 pm

Marques says:
So close… (see 1st post from yesterday)

Nov.8 at 3:09 pm

allenp says:
I’m disappointed he didn’t crack top five, particularly with Duncan slowing down this year, but I can’t hate. Dude is the truth. “Practice? Are we talking about practice?”
“So if I came back all swole, would they just hand me the MVP?” The memories

Nov.8 at 3:15 pm

oliver says:
my favourite basketball player ever-
How the hell at his height does he do the things he does?
even as a kid here in Britian i would go to unbelieveable lengths to watch the guy play basketball- including dating a girl with a US region DVD player and then getting the AI DVD shipped from the USA (on paper route money)- just so i could watch it-
(one of the highlights that proves his unreal athletic ability is watching him play football in h/s and Tearing it up! he was Vick before Vick—)
Watchin AI was honestly one of my fave things growing up-
Along with Roy Jones JNR and Mike Vick he is the most incredible athlete i have ever seen and a absolute joy to behold-
I wish he stayed 25 for ever- shame really- eventually hes gonna start to break down and it will kill me-
if this list was 4-5 years ago he would be number one- and i still rate him above duncan and dirk (and maybe Wade too)now
One things for sure- there will never be another AI

Nov.8 at 3:26 pm

magicalmonkey@(>. says:
I would have put him at least a number three or somewhere near there. Iverson had garbaged player during the year he won the MVP, but he still managed to take them to the final. Lebron got good supporting cast but i dont see no final in his future, because he is garbaged. Wade won the championship, that is true, but it wouldnt have happened if he didnt have shaq. Remember when Miami was like without Shaq, garbaged. Wade and Lebron can not be ranked higher that AI, thats pure stupididty. Don’t jump on the band wagon of Lebron, Wade, or Carmelo, because they are garbaged and overrated. Kobe is the best that this league has to offer.

Nov.8 at 3:27 pm

Dylan says:
Personally, I would have KG over Duncan.

Nov.8 at 3:33 pm

Dj says:
I still believe he’ll get his ring. It just wouldn’t be right otherwise.

Nov.8 at 3:34 pm

Darksaber says:
No. No. No. No No no, bloody hell no. I admire Wade, Bronny, the t-dunc robot and all the usual suspects for top 10, but Allen Iverson is a FREAK. Scratch that, a mofo enigma, is what that man is. Didn’t buy into the hype at G-town, wasn’t impressed with the back to back (to baaack) 40 Point sessions in the rookie season, still am not too hyped by the MJ double-cross(over). But he is one of the best 3 players, worth, talent or anyotherwise (sic.) in the NBA. He’s my height for pete’s sake, i’m about 15 pounds heavier and i hurt like hell after balling in my league. What business does that smallish man have in the league of Wallace’s and Aaron Williamses? Just the stats he’s been having this early into the season, willing Philly to wins.. improbable. Heart for a whole platoon that guy.
I was not one of the many, but i am now a believer, Allen Iverson is a mofo FREAK. (in a great way)

Nov.8 at 3:40 pm

oliver says:
Also-
Ben Gordon sort of committed to playin for the British national team today- which is brilliant-
Now we got Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and potentially guys like Olowokandi Boateng (at Duke) Archibald and Ebi (yeah yeah i know- but its good for this country) we can at least compete in Europe with that level of talent and maybe start building a decent base for the game here-
Also Steve Nash said he would consider being a coach here- altho knowing the idiots in charge of basketball here none of this will happen-

Nov.8 at 3:46 pm

Darksaber says:
Umm, Oliver, being born and raised in london myself, i beg you to reconsider one thing. You do not want that dingy excuse for a center, Olowakandi on the british national team. trust me, he’ll forget the afropick in his hair and probably poke out Gordon’s eye in the layup line… usually us nigerian’s have more pride in skills, but that guy just plays for the cash, nothing else.

Nov.8 at 3:48 pm

Timbo says:
Yo Oliver..dude..are u sipping that “purple stuff”? What does your take have to do with A.I?

Nov.8 at 3:50 pm

Timbo says:
Only if Shaq had half the heart A.I has..he’ll have like four……..teen rings by now b!

Nov.8 at 3:52 pm

Darksaber says:
Back to the Answer (what question indeed?). All highlights and impressive stats aside, i still SCREAM when i see him sky OVER THE BACK OF MARCUS CAMBY to grab and stuff an offensive rebound in my alltime Iverson Highlight. I mean, come on.. that a’int right! Vince skying over Freddy or putting a lipton on (insert NBA Center / Power forward name here) is flabbergasting, but Allen doing that to a big man? Justaminute, Lemme rewind that for the 1500th time in my life.

Nov.8 at 3:53 pm

rob stewart says:
The funniest commercial out right now is Iverson’s DAP commercial on NBA TV. Hilarious. Best Finals game ever in my lifetime was game one sixers vs lakers.

Nov.8 at 3:57 pm

oliver says:
As i said earlier saber my man- hes a mess- but we aint got much else goin for us here and he is 7 ft tall- can u think of any other NBA’ers who could be made eligible for GB soon?
I want a good team here a lot- and it aint happening unless we start using the fact that lots of great African born ballers are elligible to play here- and others too-If only steve nash had stayed a little longer- maybe he would have played for us…..and maybe he would have got some sense and not supported Tottenham hotspurs either…the idiot
anyhow- Olowokandi is better than our current big useless centres- and u never know- maybe he would be proud to represent his country and may actually do something except be tall-……………………….. maybe

Nov.8 at 3:58 pm

Timbo says:
Has anyone ever tried to square up A.I on the court?(As in has he ever gotten in fights on the court as oppose to in practice with Stackhouse)..Just curious!

Nov.8 at 3:59 pm

oliver says:
timbo i already left my tearsome childhood story of AI - saving me from a life of crime etc earlier
i just want a good basketball team- dont hate

Nov.8 at 3:59 pm

oliver says:
kobe and AI had a good jaw at eachother a few yrs back to answer your question- that was fun to watch

Nov.8 at 4:00 pm

Timbo says:
I feel you Oliver..I guess I missed your post..my bizzle!

Nov.8 at 4:01 pm

Simmy Sosa says:
Vote Joe Johnson, All Star 2006!!!

Nov.8 at 4:05 pm

Ron says:
Growing up in Philly, I remember all the hype when Pat Croce won the lottery and all declared AI the number 1 pick, and the day he crossed Mike I knew we had a great player. All the ups and downs the dude has been through, nothing about his heart on the court can ever be questioned. Who else could have went to the finals with Dikembe, Tyrone Hill, Jumaine Jones, and Eric Snow as the the starters and Aaron McKie, Matt Geiger, Kevin Ollie, Todd MacCullough, and a young Raja Bell on the bench. Not only did this team of misfits make it to the finals, they gave the Lakers their only loss of the playoffs that year. All on the shoulders of Iverson.

Nov.8 at 4:16 pm

Khalid Salaam says:
As a lifelong Sixers fan let me just say that its been absolutely incredible rooting for this guy. WIn or lose AI always brought that heat. Damn the HOF, thats whatever. I’m talkin about telling my kids and grandkids that i watched this guy play live and in person and how amazing that was. No doubt this he is truly legend status. real heads recognize….

Nov.8 at 4:18 pm

Heman Gman says:
AI is to basketball as Tupac is to rap. both will be remembered for a lifetime

Nov.8 at 4:22 pm

CASHVILLE says:
I’ll smack your momma in your mouth if you say something bad about AI. I remember watching him at G Town when I was all but 11 or 12 years old and seeing him in those patent leather J’s crossing and rippin everybody. What amazed me back then and still to this day is how a person his size can dominate the game so much. That is a true testament to his uncanny athleticism and will to win. I play three or four games of full court and feel like shit the next day so I’m like how can he play 82 plus playoffs and “practice, are we really talking about practice”. I’m afraid he might end up like Earl Cambell in his old age because of the punishment he takes night in and night out but I hope otherwise. This season really shed light on how much of a dick head Dave Stern is with the whole new ball idea and the referee situation. Reading the write up made me remember how he tried to exile AI from the league his rookie year and a few years after making a big deal over his cornrolls, tats, white tees, jewelry, you name it. I like how AI didn’t conform and made the league conform to him. Your not great in this league until you cause a couple of rule changes ala palming and the infamous “dress code”. In the end, he’s too likeable even for the conservatives to hate. How can you dislike a man who at the end of the day performs his job to the fullest and takes care of his family. I can’t speak for anyone else but that is my goal on a daily basis. It doesn’t help that every female from your sister to your girl wants to be his baby momma but it’s AI so I let him slide. Peace!

Nov.8 at 4:24 pm

Mike says:
AI and VC in 2001 playoffs. One of the Best series of all-time.

Nov.8 at 4:24 pm

Tony G says:
nothing vs. AI..I bigged him up early on if you look back at my post.. but he isn’t ahead of Duncan..the post guy is always ahead of the perimeter guy if they are the same level, because the post guy has the high % shot..Duncan shoots 50% all the time, Iverson doesn’t.. 3 rings say Duncan’s ahead of AI, KG and Dirk..

Nov.8 at 4:32 pm

Darksaber says:
Aaahh, the girls reaction to AI. Excellent point Cashville. On the money. I’ve been with my lady for 8 years, she plays ball too and she only follows the NBA like, never. But dare show her a cover/story/website featuring Allen staring off it with those “bambi” eyes (her words, not mine, nooo way) and she’s suddenly Kenny smith’s equal in b-ball knowledge. I mean that vibe cover or the fashion model Slam cover of him, are all time favourites of hers. Never mind that there were other stories in the mags. Only since Flash got into the league has she been, umm slightly distracted. Another one of the related phenomena when dealing with the Answer. Is he even of this earth?

Nov.8 at 4:33 pm

ambassadorlopez1 says:
I just want to say that I think Iverson should def be in the Top 5.To Me hes number one but I think critics give him to short of the stic sometimes.If u look at Lebron and Wade They are just starting in the leauge.They havent paid to many does as much as Iverson has and yet they still will Rank higher than he.I think its disrespect personally.Hes not only Tough but hes def not slwoing down in this leauge.People are Quick to count him out and I think s its unfair.When the Sixers are winning everyone wants to Praise him and when they loose everyone wants to blame him.I have never thought he would slow down and to my account he hasnt.hes only gotten better.While evryone still wants to Chase Lebron, Wade,and Kobe.Who all are great ballers.I still will place my money on Will, Strenth, Courage, Toughness,Loyalty, (Iverson).He believes in him self so much that u have to because he plays with his heart and u cant say that for most.Number One In My eyes.

Nov.8 at 4:35 pm

Patrick says:
does he rank in the top 10 guards all-time? b/c he obviously makes the new top 50 list..

Nov.8 at 4:36 pm

Patrick says:
sorry to double post - but how many players have changed the face of the game - after copying jordan, everyone was copying AI.. at the (re)birth of the gunning small guard.

Nov.8 at 4:38 pm

Shiz says:
A.I. got the “gift”. He like Bruce LeRoy. Got that glow. That’s the only way I can explain how someone so small can just get bucket after bucket after bucket. A.I. throws it up, and it drops. I cant count how many times I think he’s gonna get his lay-up pint (not pinned, pint) to the backboard and it never does…usually turns into an and-1. I love the look he gave Ty-Lue. I remember the Ty-Lue was the Laker practice squad Iverson and kinda took that mindframe with him during that series… A.I. killed em and then stepped over the body like “and what?”. I don’t think A.I.’s ever been in a physical altercation on court…would you beef wit dude. He’s the originator of the NBA player “entourage”. He’s been through a helluva lot and I’m glad he’s finally getting his due. Unfortunately I don’t think its anything to do with A.I., just that the culture caught up. Meaning with more and more exposure to urban culture, it’s less feared and more fully embraced… I think of A.I.’s exceptance this way…In our parents day, rock and r&b was the mainstream…Our generation has rap as its mainstream…As our generation gets older we assume more national/community responsibility… Meaning, the rolls that used to be filled by the Bing Crosby fans are sloooowly being replaced by Biggie/Tupac fans… One day, we’ll have a president who grew up on rap music..Scarey thought to some, revolutionary to others…kinda like A.I.

Nov.8 at 4:42 pm

allenp says:
He’s top ten easily Patrick. I don’t care who gets bumped.

Nov.8 at 4:52 pm

boston's finest says:
add him to the list of patrick ewing, charles barkley, and the rest of them. greatest players to have never won a ring

Nov.8 at 4:59 pm

Khalid Salaam says:
But at the topof that list, boston. b/c ai’s career has been better than both barkley and ewing. he’s right under the mailman on the list of guys who never won

Nov.8 at 5:02 pm

kingstuffs says:
iversons beein iverson since being a rookie
and he does it hard every nite
think about it his name is like second only to
MJ…i think he shoulda been higher

Nov.8 at 5:03 pm

Kene says:
…wow…reading the comments on here have me all misty-eyed..lol..A.I might not get the top spot on this list, but he definitely gets the most props. That dude is simply incredible. I don’t think we’ll really appreciate him till after he retires. @Darksaber,…you’re naija??…i’d never have guessed.

Nov.8 at 5:17 pm

Marvin says:
Bubba, is the heart and soul of us black people. I never seen anybody famous in sports or entertainment that has kept it real, through goog and bad times. I have to salute AI for being HIMself. He is what he is. No. 1. in the hood, always and 4ever.

Nov.8 at 5:17 pm

Darksaber says:
True Yoruba from Ibadan Kene. And been following the NBA since 1989.

Nov.8 at 5:30 pm

Timbo says:
Great point Cashville..on A.I not conforming to the league standards, but doing his thang..and in the end it was “us” as in everyone else that conformed to A.I…Cat is a straight up trendsetter!

Nov.8 at 5:53 pm

Khalid Salaam says:
Marvin why is he the “heart and soul of us black people”? please explain.

Nov.8 at 5:53 pm

Mega says:
pound for pound the best in the league

Nov.8 at 6:05 pm

marcel mutoni says:
“Marvin why is he the ‘heart and soul of us black people’? please explain.” please don’t.

Nov.8 at 6:07 pm

Aska says:
Another great AI moment not everyone remembers was the seven three pointers in the tird quarter he scored against Canada in FIBA qualifying in 2003…that was amazing, like wathcing some playgorund shootout on an international level. Incidentally, if it were that team that went to Athens in 2004, I think that the gold would have been a foregone conclusion (if you remember, with a starting five of AI,Kidd, TD, JO and TMAC - with Ray, Vince, Elton etc. off the bench they beat ARGENTINA by 30 in the final of that tournament). It was some of those other guys pulling out (no disrespect to those who who were on the team in ‘04) that cost the US the gold in Athens.

Nov.8 at 6:16 pm

P-MAC says:
before i defend Iverson, I dont even know what was going through your mind when you put Darko and Bargnani in the top 50, be real Darko ahead of Diaw, Diaw just won the MIP? Darko has done nothing and Bargnani? nuff said, CP3 is way too high at #9 better than kidd, parker, marbury? not yet fellas, but for Iverson I’m shocked. He’s the face of slam magazine and you disrespect him? at least put him ahead of Dirk, come on now 33 points, 7 assist a game 6-0″ 160 with at least 30 injuries in his body and he’s on a bad team, No one plays with more heart than Iverson and KG, come on just tweak the top 50 a lil bit and it should be ok. Especially after iverson is off to a good start with the sixers this year he’s averaging 34 right now!!! i’m surprised, he’s better than Dirk period

Nov.8 at 6:26 pm

chronically_ill says:
Man, i remember when i first saw Iverson…i must have been like 12 years old, and i didnt know shit about basketball, but he was my favorite right away. He just stood out so much. His size, his cornrows, the way he crossed people over, his twisting, acrobatic and 1s, his heart….man, i dont know if we will ever see another iverson. i mean, the man not only revolutionized the game, but he made such a huge impact on american culture as well. i guess chris paul is the leader of the new school of guards, but would he make such a huge cultural impact as iverson? i doubt it. there was only one iverson then, there is one iverson now, and there will be only one iverson in the future.

Nov.8 at 6:35 pm

Aska says:
Had to back up P-MAC. AI IS SLAM (taking from Scoop’s heartfelt last word in Ish 75), and his issue 96 cover nod over Kobe (one of my favorites to date) is proof of that. I understand that Dirk may slightly be ahead because of his playoff performance and general brilliance last year, but we’re talking about the greatest pure scorer and the most impactful player of this generation . Top 5 (maybe even No. 4 ahead of TD given his recent injuries) seems to be just right given SLAM’s criteria for this list (although its clear here that AI’s total body of work puts him in a class ahead of Bron, Melo and even Kobe - until time proves otherwise.

Nov.8 at 7:08 pm

Timbo says:
Didn’t A.I start the whole “throwback jersey” phenomenon??? Yes?

Nov.8 at 7:22 pm

Justin H says:
A.I. Is not in the top 5 for 3 reasons. 1. A.I. Has no Rings
2. A.I. is gettin old
3. A.I. Has a great team with (A.I. 2.0, C-Webb, S Dalembert, and Green.) and still doesn’t make it to the playoffs.

Nov.8 at 7:23 pm

Justin H says:
Blame it on the height!!

Nov.8 at 7:57 pm

Frodo says:
KG should have been ranked higher!!!!

Nov.8 at 8:02 pm

Ang says:
why is his FG% so low?

Nov.8 at 9:01 pm

Lebronbestintheworld says:
1. lebron
2. wade
3. dirk
4 duncan
5 baron davis
KOBE you suck

Nov.8 at 9:04 pm

Lebronbestintheworld says:
t mac and kg are both better than AI
but he is still nice

Nov.8 at 9:10 pm

Toney Blare says:
There were girls dancing topless atop cars on Broad Street after that Game 1.

Nov.8 at 9:26 pm

Confucious of Bball says:
to lebronbestintheworld,
you nothing but a typical dumbass. Stop jumping on the band wagon n stop being a hater on Kobe. You know well lebron is no where the like of Michael Jordan and Kobe. I dunno why people keep on comparing him to Jordan when Lebron is pure shit. Dude, what is the hype Lebron, Wade, and Carmelo. They are piece of overated shit. Come on now, they were suppose to bring the gold medal back to the U.S. during the world champion in 2005. Wat happened? They got bronze that is what happened. Also in 2004, they also brought home the bronze medal once again. Man those three are most over hyped player of all time. Kobe, Mcgrady and Iverson would beat Wade, Lebron, and Anthody anyday. Wat the heck Kobe would take on Wade, Lebron and Anthondy at the same time and he would score 81 on them. Lebronbest intheworld is a total dumbass.

Nov.8 at 9:36 pm

G says:
Disapointed, but can’t say I’m surprised. AI deserves to be top 5, but I can see how it’s more convenient to choose those with rings, throw in a little european flavour and the supposed “face” of the NBA. The argument about winning a championship is flawed beyond belief. It’s true great players will win titles..but not on their on. Jordan had Pippen, Kobe had Shaq in his prime, Wade got a declining Shaq, but Shaq’s still Shaq, Duncan had the Admirall, Sean Elliot, Ginobili, Tony Parker.. Now let’s look at the best player Iverson’s ever had.. a C-Webb with a 2 inch vert.

Nov.8 at 9:38 pm

G says:
Lebronbestintheworld, u have baron davis at the 5 spot? It was pretty clear once the 30’s were cracked, that we weren’t gonna see baron davis… not even after all that weight he lost in the offseason

Nov.8 at 10:40 pm

New era says:
Lebronbestintheworld is a dumbass. Kobe would kill lebron 1 on 1 any day of the week and a young kobe was a way better dunker than lebron. Baron Davis on your list is at #5 nuff said dumbass.

Nov.8 at 10:53 pm

Chief says:
I like this placing for AI cause we know they are more team players but this man has actually carried Philly on his back for ten years. Andre has took a load off but when it comes down to it AI is a winner at heart and wants that ball at the end of the game. A very valuble palyer.

Nov.8 at 10:53 pm

illydiva says:
Of course everything I could say about AI has already been said…being a lifer with the Sixers, I saw AI before the cornrows when he crossed up MJ; when he stepped over Lue; when he brought the East back in the All-Star game and went searching for the snake “where my coach?”; when he high-fived the fans at the Wac after a win; when he came back early from injuries; the love he gives to all his former teammates to this day when they come into his house; etc…. The man is a marvel even in his 11th year. You will never hear another player speak ill of AI. Even Shaq had to recognize, naming himself and Iverson the toughest players in the league–and that was before Shaq started getting old. Of all his early off-court drama, the Iverson-rules changes, the haters, etc., the closest I ever saw AI coming to blows was a little skirmish with Carlos Arroyo. There will never be another like him. This spot is cool since AI is 31, but a case could be made for top 5.

Nov.8 at 11:59 pm

chronically_ill says:
Justin H, have you been watching the sixers play at all lately? C-Webb is NOT the same player he was. he’s still got his jump shot and his passing skills are still pretty sharp, but he cant jump for shit anymore! not only that, c-webb cannot play a lick of defense. the dude moves as fast as an old man! Samuel Dalembert might block shots and rebound pretty well, but he still hasent figured out how to stay out of foul trouble, he has no post moves, and he has hands of stone. As for willie green…who the *%&$ is willie green??? yes, my point exactly. As for Ang, 1) Iverson shot like 45% from the field last year, which isnt low at all for a guard. and 2) his fg% has hovered around 40% mostly because most of his shots came under high duress. it’s not like iverson can camp out in the post and get easy buckets. His shots also always come under high duress because he’s the primary option of his team’s offense, meaning defenses are geared to stop him. and think about the teammates that he’s had. i mean, he’s played with guys like george lynch, dikembe, kevin ollie….not exactly the most illustrious list of scorers, which means iverson HAD to take all the shots, even with defenses geared to stop him and only him.

Nov.9 at 12:45 am

Reno says:
AI…seriously, I think potential-wise, hes up there with Jordan..one thing’s botherin me though, he doesnt have the same drive for improvement,by way of practice that is, that Jordan has!…Hes the most influential player after MJ, after MJ everyone wanna dunk and glide..or shot fadeaways with their tounge hangin out…and every NBA “phenom” that cames out afterward is great, but wasnt bringin somethin new to the table (Ie.Kobe,LeBron,Shaq)..dont get me wrong though, those guys are great, but not influential….now AI..after AI, every kid in the playground wanna do crossover, and lets face it, no one can guard him one on one…So heres to AI, intensify your practice man, and Ill guarantee you youll get that ring, larry bird doesnt have half the skill that AI got, but thnx to a crazy practice routine he got those nice rings on his finger, time to put some on your fingers AI.

Nov.9 at 12:51 am

Miggy says:
Allen Iverson is the epitome of how the game should be played. he goes hard, plays with heart, bows down to nobody, gives 110% and he literally wills his team to victory. if i was the one making this list, he’d be in the top 3.

Nov.9 at 1:03 am

rob stewart says:
Man, I can’t get no DAP?

Nov.9 at 1:12 am

Teddy-the-Bear says:
UGH. This is an underrate…. Iverson should be top 3, no doubt. come on man, 30 points, 10 assists a game? dude ownz michael jordan like its nothing, and number 6? its not that bad but I’d take Iverson ANY DAY OVER DIRK. Dirk is overrated.

Nov.9 at 1:14 am

Clay says:
Swap AI for Dork and the mavs would have won a chip last year… nuff said

Nov.9 at 1:39 am

serbia23 says:
good spot iversons good but he aint top5
kobe for MVP

Nov.9 at 1:45 am

Pistons fan says:
Is Sheed gonna feature in dis top 50?? u got guys like andrew bogut in here. im aussie but the guy is SH*THOUSE. sheed walks all ova his ass. top 5 should b. 1. LeBron
2. Kobe (as much as i hate him u gotta pay the mann sum dues)
3.DWade
4.Tim Duncan
5.Sheed p.s did ne 1 see that tomohawk that Lebron did on tim duncan wen the cavs played San Antonio. man that was sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Nov.9 at 3:17 am

Atma Brother #1 says:
Marcel my man- Nice words on my fav NBA player. I’ll never forget those early Iverson years and I don’t want these older Iverson years to ever end.

Nov.9 at 5:51 am

DVLb0y613 says:
AI should be number one based on all the things that he had to go through, look at his height and weight and for him to be the player that he is speaks a lot about his heart and spirit..make le bron or dirk or any other top ten player the same height as AI and you would never hear about them, or better yet make AI 6″ taller, forget everybody he would be the G.O.A.T

Nov.9 at 7:47 am

michael f. says:
AI is kinda overrated.. right now he should not be on the top ten, VC or T-MAC should be on this spot…. but as far as talent YAH!!!

Nov.9 at 7:48 am

michael f. says:
KOBE for number ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nov.9 at 9:05 am

DVLb0y613 says:
sheed and LO need a place n d top 30..I dont care who gets off…

Nov.9 at 9:53 am

Joel Marcer says:
Slam Like millions of people who play basketball or watch basketball im an a.i fan. I love to watch the guy play, he’s undesized but plays with the most heart everyone knows why they like this guy. Cutting into his 6 best player right here right now story with i remember in 10th grade when he put that crossover on jordan. I remember seeing this also nice cross. But money crossing the whole leauge over and won championships. But A.i would have chips himslef if david stern didn’t , he did what made a rule change becaus of an allen iverson crossover. Never thought i would say this but slam. please keep it fucking real boys.

Nov.9 at 11:39 am

T NAS says:
glad to c so much love for AI - i cant believe teams DIDNT THINK he could HELP them and wouldnt trade for him in the offseason - GMS are insane, he goes to a half decent team with an idea of how to play D-fense and the win the championship, they say he dominates the ball but look at his record, when hes had decent payers around him he is willing to give up the ball, he had stack and hughes when they both sucked and why the F&*( should AI pass to Van Horn?? plus he shoots at a 45% clip n averages 7 assists - AI IS THE MAN - GOAT (outside of Jordan)

Nov.9 at 11:57 am

rob stewart says:
I can’t get know DAP?

Nov.9 at 12:38 pm

shoez_crazy@hotmail.com says:
If Iverson is better then Nasty Nash…how is that AI’s team stunk it up last year. AI can just score points and he takes so many shots to get his 30 that it takes away from the team. AI should not be in the top 10. Kobe for #1!

Nov.9 at 12:41 pm

Maurice says:
This is a great spot for the answer

Nov.9 at 2:10 pm

Showgun says:
A.I. at the six spot is OK I guess, in my mind his number 1. A.I. can go to any solid team and make them a contender. Instead he plays with a bunch of players on the come up and (Chris Webber who plays on one leg). A.I. is mosdef a HoF. His career avg in points is insane 30.1 ppg. His right behind MJ and The Big Dipper, that’s some nice company A.I. is in right now. I would pick A.I. over Nash any day. A.I. went to the finals and lost, but atleast the man made it there.

Nov.9 at 2:30 pm

Showgun says:
A.I. FOR MVP.

Nov.9 at 7:55 pm

G says:
shoez_crazy@hotmail.com, you’re crazy alright. You contradict yourself when you point out AI’s ineligibility to be in the top 10 then go on to shout “KOBE FOR #1!!!!11″ If any player is the definition of selfishness, it’s Kobe. While he’s a great player, top 5 even, his value to his team is basically nonexistent. Remember last year when his selfish play was beginning to show, he decided to quit on his team to show his importance. He’d passed up open shots, refusing to help the team. This was his a little act to exclaim to the world, “THE LAKERS NEED ME”. And yea, it’s true they do. But they don’t need an immature version of Kobe who demands the spotlight. The ‘man’ is nearing 30, it’s time to grow the hell up.
.
As for the comment about taking a lotta shots to get his 30ppg…… AI averaged 2 shots less than Kobe per game last season, while scoring 2 ppg less. The production rate seems exactly the same. Oh except for the fact that Iverson had 7+apg as well.

Nov.10 at 5:21 pm

B.C says:
This s**t is f***ed up

Nov.12 at 11:12 pm

vili says:
it is f***** up aye haha

Nov.13 at 12:33 am

Vince Fan says:
i say 4 but its all good

Nov.13 at 2:23 pm

Aeryn says:
I think he should be ranked higher. Just because someone won a championship doesnt mean that they are better than someone. Wade n dirk shouldnt be lower than iverson. Hes done everything

Nov.14 at 11:50 am

scott says:
Except make the playoffs very often

Nov.14 at 2:22 pm

Renee says:
Yell right! Once a hood always a hood. Allen Iverson is always going to betray a straight hood lifestyle, and I love that about him. Although I’m not a hoodgirl, his image turns me on!!!!
slimgoody, good to the last drop!

Nov.15 at 1:30 am

allen says:
meng allen “The Answer” is a lot better than all of the guys in NBA
Kobe cann’t get any Playoffs rings if it wasn’t for shaq kobe needs helps to win a game
AI do everything individual to win a game and u should admire that guy bcuz he’s the quickest guy to guard and toughest guy to guard AI # 1

Nov.15 at 1:37 am

mark says:
the best basketball of all time besides Jordan
1.allen iverson and kept kobe out of here
and lebron is fucked he’s just tall and show off and dirk sucks, baron davis got crossed up by iverson y did they say that iverson got no any rings cuz iverson has a bad ass teamates
if iverson have KG or BIg BEN Wallace or shaq he will win the Playoffs

Nov.17 at 9:49 pm

Ilir Sulejmani says:
first off let me say something A.I is the best player in the league today. if you don’t think so sit back, shut the fuck up and read as you feel me prove you wrong. what your about to see is ALL true ABSOLUTELY no LIES, no BULLSHIT, AND nnnnoooo things that i say just to make people feel good. I HATE THAT SHIT.
1.) Dwayne Wade is not better than Allen Iverson i don’t care what you say he’s not even the best player on his team!!!!!!!!!!!Allen Iverson has higher stats and is not affected at AL by injury whatsoever not like soft ass dwayne wade who gets scratched and starts crying into the locker room. remember allen iverson once played three full quarters of a game with a sprained ankle and finished with like 26 points… DAAAAAAMMMMMNNNNN. enough said. oh guess what to all you dumb asses that think dwayne wade is the best player in the league and are arguing with me right now JUST STOP while your still at it your just gonna end up looking like a dumb ass like you already are for thinking dwayne wade is the best player in the nba. ha ha ha i laugh at such un acceptable garbage coming out of a basketball fan’s mouth. i’m not saying dwayne wade isn’t good last time i checked he had a ring so he obviously is in at least top10 but he’s not better than my boii A.I besides he can’t suck he’s from the best basketball city EVER… Chicago(that is where i’m from)
2.)Kobe and Lebron have my full respect so no fans of them should get offended by this. kobe is an asassin… scoring, wen it comes to gettin assists Allen Iverson has him in a chokehold and don’t giv me this crap about how kobe don’t got nobody to pass to because guess what dumb ass niether does allen iverson andre iguadola is good but so is lamar odom and kyle korver is good but so is that L.A center(i forgot his name but he’s killin this year) so A.I is at least at the same level, give or take as kobe bryant, next is lebron. o.k again lebron is a beast no lie. but denie him from the rim and its about over for his scoring(even tho there is prolly like 4 guys in the league with the ability to stop him from gettin to the rim)A.I can score from virtually anywher on a court and you know he will never be afraid to take it in no matter how hard he is hit and if you try top keep him away from gettin in he’s straight he’ll just hit the j. and if you try to guard him both wayz you are bound to be crossed over in a play that you’ll be seeing on sportscenter all week. now on to my next point.
3.)Allen Iverson gets older but he doesn’t get oollddeerr meaning he doesn’t show it he gets statistically better every year he’s in the league. and he’s had like 26 different body injuries and he still plays his hardest NOBODY AND I MEAN NOBODY can match that heart maybe the talent but NOT the heart.and he still plays as good if not better with every game he plays lets see who else did you guys say was better then my son… lol… just playin i’m not his dad i’m his lost brother… he he he…any wayz hmmmm ohh tim duncan. WHAT? LET ME REPEAT THAT tim duncan? one more time this time just out of disbelief and to make sure every one knows who we are talking about TIM DUNCAN? I do’t need to explain this but i will to piss off every one who believes this garbage. o.k first off this guy is late on everything, he gets dunked on like it’s nothing, he is good if you live in like 2003 or 2004, he gets old quick and he’s boring. i have a list of more but i don’t want to waste my life going thru them. yea he has a ring SO WHAT we’re talking about the best players not about who is lucky enough to get on a team that’s good and has players like admiral(a hall of famer) manu ginobli(a definate all star) and tony parker( i hate the bitch but he can play) if tim duncan and allen iverson switched teams allen iverson would have a ring every year he was in the league.
4.)o.k this entry took me like an hour to finish so yall better have made it this far. A.I didn’t make it to the playoffs last year your right but when he did who was on his team? the best player that comes to mind is chris webber who used to be phenominal but when he got to philly he played horrible i’m sorry but it’s true he is still good i mean he is in the nba but come on is really legitimate enough for people to say that he can get a team to the playoffs? let me answer that for you… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! allen iverson lifts his team up benches them about ten times throws them on his back straps them in and piggy back rides them to getting as far away from the playoffs (if they don’t make the playoffs) as a n ant can walk in a tenth of a second… to any one that is to dumb to understand what that mena it means he gets them REALLY REALLY REALLY close to the playoffs but not quite there also he brought them single handedly to the finals in 2001 and the lakers deserved that championship because they were a better overall team but thats besides the point the point is A.I took them there alone and you still don’t wanna give him his props? there is only one word for that… hatin. finally i just have to state that this list is good with the players on it just not with positions. Shaq should definitely be at least top five. have you forgotten him yea he’s old so is tim duncan who shaq is better than so in the words of 50 cent bitch shut yo mouth. man i feel so relieved like i just got chest reductions or somethin ahhh i had to get that off my back i feel good now. peace out i’m done if i talk any more you’ll think i’m oprah or something ohh and if i got off on one of your favorite players or something or you think i’m right(of course i am) and you want revenge on me or want to show some lov hit me up on myspace.com/bangro

Nov.20 at 12:04 am

Drew says:
God I can’t hate AI he just plays like the prince…the RZA should close wu tang and produce beats while Ai teaches Krover how to dominate. he is the only player who could be the greatest posiibly ever but at the same time he would rather kill someone so he can’t hold that rep down yet. If he is the greatest then throw in the GZA too so they can just wrap up the NBA

Nov.20 at 12:10 pm

matt garza says:
a.i. should definatly win mvp..he has carryed his team so far but the dont get anywhere because they only have a.i. he deserves a mvp because hes the hardest player to shut down

Nov.25 at 3:24 am

josh lewis says:
i have been following slam magazine since the skip to my lou cover. you are the only basketball magazine that keeps it real. the fact that you put iverson ahead of steve nash certify’s that. keep up the great work

Dec.19 at 12:38 pm

Richy Trujillo says:
i want him to go to the indiana pacers it will help us out if we get him and let go of jamal tinsley but we can get red of a lot of people if that was to happen we should have kept all of our players because the game is not just one player it depends of the whole team i think he will do good with jermain oneal as power forward and Jeff foster getting rebounds we will be a hard team to beat. PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN IN WILL BE GOOD FOR THE INDIANA PACERS

Jan.13 at 10:10 pm

sjeezy says:
da man is great not because of da crossovers or all dose jumpers but da way he played da game. with his heart, a fire dat will never be matched, glaring at his opponets, and always goin 200 percent every game and never bakin down to nobody and takin every blow and still rising to the occasion

Mar.2 at 5:20 pm

IversonLover says:
Iverson rox! He should b #1. Screw Wade, Iverson could take him any day!!

Apr.2 at 4:15 pm

Todd says:
A.I. is 31 years old. 30 freakin 1 years old!!!! it’s not like he’s 50 years old!! how is it unbelievable that he isn’t slowing down? 31 is still pretty young. when Jordan was 31, he wasn’t slowing down neither was he?? for god sakes…

Jul.5 at 3:51 am

Paolo says:
I’m not the biggest AI fan but I do think he is all-heart. I’m saddened by the fact that he should play with Carmelo Anthony.

Aug.8 at 2:18 pm

daniel says:
Allen Iverson has not and will never be forgotten especially forgotten by trashey players like kobe,wade, and lebron.A.I has not slowed down, he is the best player in the NBA. Here are the top 5 best in the NBA:1 Allen Iverson,2 Tim Duncan,3 Steve Nash,4 Kobe Bryant,5 Kevin Garnett.