“To my fans: You all know that my life isn’t perfect. I am going through some very tough times right now, like I am sure that we all do from time to time,” Iverson wrote. “However, I will stand tall like always with ‘rhino’ thick skin.”

Iverson had been mostly absent from the 76ers for a month, returning to Atlanta to be with his family as they deal with an undisclosed illness of his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah. Iverson and the Sixers decided last Tuesday he would not return for the rest of the season.

Allen Iverson said on Twitter it hurt to hear stories about his personal life that aren’t true.

“Even though I have become used to hearing people say things about me that aren’t true, it still hurts,” Iverson wrote. “I encourage you to continue your ongoing support and I want you to trust that this is another obstacle in my life that, with God’s help I will overcome.”

This is definitely a good sign. Hopefully, those stories are not true and that Iverson will truly overcome his personal problems. AI, our prayers are with you.

Smith wrote: “If numerous NBA sources are telling the truth—and there’s no reason to believe they’d do otherwise in a situation of this magnitude—Iverson will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away.”

Smith continues by calling those close to him to give some tough love and turn his life around.

As an AI fan for through the years, it pains me to hear the problems that Allen is facing. All we can do as fans is pray and hope that he can defeat his own personal demons.

Allen Iverson had recently moved to Atlanta, Georgia and away from his NBA career in February 2010 to be with his sick 4-year-old.

In a posting on Twitter, Allen Iverson wrote: “I need to be there to hold my little girl’s hand and encourage her to get better. I wanted her to wake up every morning and see her Daddy’s face, at least until she got better. Through God’s Strength, She Will Keep Getting Better!”

“It has been very difficult for Allen and the team to maintain any consistency as he tries to balance his career with his personal life,” 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski said Tuesday.

It has truly been a tough times for Allen Iverson.  Nobody wishes these kind of personal issues on anyone.  It’s to no surprise that basketball was not at the forefront of Allen’s mind during the last few weeks.  As fans of Allen Iverson, we can just hope for the best and hope he gets through these difficult times.

Here’s what team president Ed Stefanski said,

“After discussing the situation with Allen, we have come to the conclusion that he will not return to the Sixers for the remainder of the season, as he no longer wishes to be a distraction to the organization and teammates that he loves very deeply.”

“It has been very difficult for Allen and the team to maintain any consistency as he tries to balance his career with his personal life.”

The 34-year-old Iverson made a tearful return to Philadelphia eager to prove he wasn’t finished after disastrous stints in Detroit and Memphis. He returned to a sold-out crowd dotted with No. 3 jerseys, and showed flashes of his former playmaking self when he ruled the NBA as one of the best guards around. He scored at least 20 points six times—including a 23-point effort in a game against the Lakers that turned into a throwback 1-on-1 duel vs. Kobe Bryant.

Iverson said at a Feb. 15 practice that it was emotionally draining to leave his family to play basketball.

“It was tough to leave her and my wife and kids,” Iverson said. “But I do have a commitment and an obligation to be with my team and to do my job. But it is rough. I think this is the only thing I do in life where for a couple hours during the game I don’t think about nothing but (basketball).”

Today is a sad day for Allen Iverson fans.  We all had hope that Allen would eventually return to the Sixers.  Unfortunately, his family is taking precedence.  Hopefully though, there is still a ray of hope that Iverson will return to the NBA in the future.

It is unclear when or even if he will return to a Sixers team that is struggling at 22-36. Last week, Iverson left the team for the second time this season to be with his 4-year-old daughter, who is suffering an undisclosed illness.

“I’m sure we will have some discussions in the next day or two about it,” Sixers coach Eddie Jordan said yesterday of Iverson’s status with the team. “Maybe I will talk to [Sixers general manager] Ed [Stefanski] a little bit today and certainly tomorrow while we are in the office.”

Jordan said Stefanski has talked with Iverson, the player’s business manager, and Leon Rose, Iverson’s agent.

He will miss the remaining three games of the current road trip. The Sixers visit the Golden State Warriors tonight before heading to Phoenix to face the Suns tomorrow and to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Friday. The Sixers’ next home game is March 1 vs. the Orlando Magic.

“At this time, we feel that is in the best interest of the Sixers, Allen and his family that he be allowed to deal with a very serious issue that is far greater than the game of basketball,” said team president and general manager Ed Stefanski.

Iverson is where he feels he needs to be – with his family.

Iverson is with his family to deal with medical issues concerning his daughter, but his constant in-and-out of the lineup this season has led team officials to believe a permanent break is best for the organization. Sources said Iverson went to team officials over the weekend and said he needed to leave the team again.

Sources say Sixers coach Eddie Jordan addressed the players on Sunday, and told them there’s a chance Iverson may not return to the team. However, Sixers ownership, general manager Ed Stefanski and Jordan haven’t sat down and formally come to that decision, but sources with knowledge of the Sixers plans believe the franchise is leaning in that direction.

More to come soon.

“I have five kids,” Allen, 34, pointed out after practice in Philadelphia on Monday. “None of them have ever been this sick. It’s a first-time thing for me.”

Adding to his anxiety is the fact that doctors aren’t totally sure about what ails Messiah. She has been in and out of a hospital in Atlanta and will now travel to Philadelphia to undergo treatment at Children’s Hospital.

“If they find out its pneumonia, which they hope it’s not, they’re going to have to admit her again,” Allen reveals. “All I do is just pray on it … ’cause that’s all that can be done right now, ’cause they don’t know exactly what’s wrong with her.”

“I like to look at myself as a strong person, especially dealing with everything in my life. But this is a totally different situation; you find out you’re not as tough as you thought you were when it’s one of your kids.”

Doctors have assured Allen that they’ll “get to the bottom of” Messiah’s symptoms, assurances that have given the point guard peace of mind — to a point. “You look at them eye to eye and you can tell they truly believe that,” he says. “You kind of feel comfortable about it.”

Enough so that Allen has agreed to rejoin his team, after missing five games to be with Messiah. Noting that he has “a commitment and an obligation to be with” the 76ers, Allen says he’s hoping his return to the court will help him stay focused at home.

“I think this is the only thing I do in life where it’s for a couple hours during a game [that] I don’t think about [anything] but that,” he muses. “I think, in some type of way, that will help me deal with my [family] situation a little better.” He adds,

“The strongest man in the world … I don’t think they could deal with it if something happened to one of their kids. I just love my kids.”
In addition to Messiah, Allen and wife Tawanna are parents to Tiaura, 14, Allen II, 11, Isaiah, 6, and Dream, 16 months.

Source: Philly.com

The Sixers were 3-24 this season when they either trailed or were tied after three quarters. The fourth also has been their least productive quarter, averaging 23.4 points and shooting 43.1 percent from the field.

But the Sixers reversed that trend against San Antonio. They opened the fourth quarter down three but outscored the Spurs 33-18, including an 18-3 run.

For those that still don’t believe Allen Iverson is a team player, check this stat out: AI had 7 points, 4 assists, and 8 rebounds. Yes – 8 Rebounds for the barely 6 foot guard.

AI is showing that he is willing to do anything for the team, even if it means being a little monster on the boards.

Note: The last time Iverson played the spurs, he piled up 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a 103-100 overtime victory Feb. 15, 2006.

“Obviously, you’re playing for your pride and you should just want to win,” Sixers guard Allen Iverson said yesterday after practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. “We don’t feel like it’s out of reach.”

Coach Eddie Jordan said Iverson would be back in the starting lineup tonight, after bringing the 14-year veteran off the bench for Tuesday’s game against Miami, a demoralizing 105-78 loss.

The countdown to the playoffs begin tonight agains the San Antonio Spurs. Iverson will have to match up against Tony Parker. Should be a good one.