The Story Behind Allen Iverson's 'Practice' Rant

With Iverson's retirement looming Gary Payton shares the story and a priceless impression.
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[@zshakur]

Allen Iverson was a VERY pleasant, peaceful dude when I met him in Atl years ago. Such a nice brother. Media depicts him in such an unfavorable light because he wouldn't kiss their ass and play the game. Much respect to one of the BEST point guards to ever lace up a pair of high tops!

[@rileyshook]

+Zayd Shakur Truth.

[@khalido50ko]

Is he PG or shooting guard? This is confusing some comments List him in their top five shooting guards of all time

[@zshakur]

Khalid Osman He played point guard in high school, college, and the NBA. He may have been moved to SG later in his career, but he was a floor general for a LONG time.

[@feddyyung4231]

+Khalid Osman his nt pg r sg he a killer

[@AIRFLASH24]

I agree I meet him in one of his camps coolest dude u can ever met bro

[@lafleurR1ddl3]

When Allen Iverson made those comments about practice, he had just lost one of his best friends. Allen Iverson is clearly an emotional guy and I think when these reporters came I and started talking about practice and not a game, I personally believe he had an emotional response in regard to perspective. He didn't care about practice that day. He lost a game and his best friend died. Imagine if somebody asked Michael Jordan about practice after he lost his father. M.J. probably would've stood up and left. Allen Iverson is one of the games greatest of all time. You don't get to that level of talent, skill, and overall ability by not practicing ever. A.I. was a surgeon on the court because he practiced.

[@gjc3655]

Wow well said

[@user-bs5zp1hm8i]

💯

[@brotheldan2009]

wish more people knew the whole story

[@klavzerblut]

Iverson is way underrated

[@juscratchinmaballs]

not really, I'm sure most people would rate him pretty high.

[@allthatjeff]

kiikiikhan not the best of this era but he was great top 7 SG ever give or take some spots

[@klavzerblut]

allthatjeff One of the best players of his era:) 1.Shaq, 2. Duncan, 3. Kobe, 4. Iverson, 5. Dirk. Possibly:)

[@allthatjeff]

kiikiikhan possibly

[@PYLrulz1984]

Omar Albarghouty they were the only team to beat the Lakers in a playoff game that year. No one else could say that. Considered how that Sixers team was that year, AI deserved that MVP award.

[@guidocavalieri]

Gary Payton was a really good Player

[@corrimahanible8165]

Payton was real with it.

[@BKLYNKING]

I hate this, it's always taken out of context. I believe Iverson's best friend died that week and the 76ers just got bumped from the playoffs in the first round after being in the finals the year before. Iverson was saying my best friend died and we just got bumped from the playoffs and you guys (the media) want to talk about practice? In the same post game press conference he said no one knows the importance of practice more than me but if the coach says I missed practice then I missed practice, there is no story other than that. He said he wouldn't be where he is if it weren't for practice but that part is always left out. SMH Some players should just give the Marshawn Lynch treatment.

[@lafleurR1ddl3]

Thank you! When one of your bet friends dies and you get bumped from the playoffs in the same week, you don't have to appease anybody's idea of what kind of basketball player they think you should be. Iverson responded like a human being, not a basketball player, and for that I have the utmost respect for the man. He was always real.

[@braxtonballer3053]

BKLYNKING bruh

[@MorabezaEntertain]

Exactly!

[@jackieclark8253]

It was a dumb question to begin with but,I think it was meant to cause drama...that's what sports are all about these days...the drama surrounding the game is more important than the actual game...smh

[@trustplanet]

🔥🔥🔥

[@IMPRESSIONISTS91]

He wasn't saying he hated practice . He was saying out all the things that happened to me and only me, yall wanna talk about practice. Not what i have broken my body everyday to play just practice. They never asked anything other than that. He carried one of the sorriest team in the league and he was 6 ft with no other all star to help. In my opinion he is better than any player only tieing with Michael and Kobe because he proved its heart over height and if u just fought with ur soul into the game u can achieve greatness. Stephen curry cant even solo a team with only him. He needs two or one other shooter. Allen mad respect👊🏼🙏

[@mackmo9903]

not only is allen iverson one of the greatest nba players but also a great streetball player

[@playinragz]

That's all lies ! They didn't show the whole interview. Iversion said his friend just got killed the day before and he just got knockout of the playoffs and your talking about practice. Because the philly media kept asking about the seasons practices he missed or was late for. Over and over and over so he stated what he felt. "Your talking bout practice" the media ran with a sound bite as usual instead of the whole story. I hate to ruin a good thing but truth is truth. Anybody would have said the same thing. This guy here is full of shit like most media .

[@jaysaget1280]

+playinragz What exactly makes you feel that GP was lying about that conversation with Iverson? Losing a close friend might have made him emotional in bringing up the practice rant, but that doesn't negate GP's story.

[@playinragz]

Jay, get the facts ... Iverson was made out to be a jerk. I thought he was too. But then I seen the facts and the whole exchange .. See it first then you will know too.

[@jamescantrell6988]

W

[@baka825]

Yeah I thought I would hear about the death of AI's friend, I only vaguely know about it, wanted to know more, so when I heard GP's story, I was like, this can't be it.. Thanks for clearing this up.

[@brandonjensen5292]

playinragz yeah, man. People need to watch the Netflix documentary. It amazes me that no one ever mentions his friend dying. The rant hasn’t been funny since

[@emmanuelscott5804]

The realist ever little man to play the game...no disrespect to spud or mugsy.

[@TS-qo9mg]

Alllen iverson legendary party animal. Once left his Bentley parked in a handicap spot at the Philadelphia airport for a week. Had someone go pick it up when it was featured on the local news with a notebook size group of parking tickets on it.

[@smackduhlip]

i like the group! basketball, tennis, football. different guys, new perspectives and insight to alot of sports

[@michaelbrown8799]

The first time I went to a NBA basketball game it was the Cavs and the 76ers. I new nothing about basketball other than MJ. I was form CLE. When I went to watch the game I remember asking by dad "why is number 3 scoring all the points?" I was about 7 yrs old then. I just remember number 3 scoring most of the points and he was the smallest guy out there. Till that day on always loved AI. The dude is just one heck of a competitor.

[@BeardedForever]

We're still talking about practice?

[@yrret1996]

We're talking about practise man, we're talking about practise

[@Dragonblazeromega]

yrret1996 not a game not a game! We talkin about practice

[@newtonplays1673]

Dragonblaze101 Not Not, Not a game! Not a Game! Not the game that I go out there and die for. We're talkin bout practice!

[@theanklebully2902]

It's not a joke

[@thaoneman]

definitely...)

[@jjsxlva]

It's like these guys didn't even see the whole interview, smh ... He wasn't talking about practice not being important, but rather the fact they were even talking about it when for one, they had just been knocked outta the playoffs. And secondly, his best friend had just died. He didn't wanna be stuck in that room having the media ask him about practice when all this other shit had just happened, resulting in "We're stuck in here talking about practice"

[@stebbiej]

exactly ,its like the same shit when gp was talkin about how hard it was to stop stockton. they should just stick to football

[@S1KTER]

Lol the Great Andy Roddick is on this show...yeah man

[@nahbuss]

"After MJ retired Iverson was the #1 guy I would pay to watch"

[@artisticskillz01]

No Kobe?

[@leebutz4727]

AI & Kobe

[@nadinendayiziga2740]

@@leebutz4727 very true

[@falilou1801]

@@artisticskillz01 the thing is that when A.I played it was a whole Show

[@somethingnice3261]

You are completely right statistic-wise and he was an all-star player and a star player before 2003. But he was an all-star piece around Shaq before that time. He was scoring effectively and played like one of the best players in the league and should have been regarded as one of the best earlier but after 2003, he got alot more props and was regarded with higher names.

[@joeythegent3888]

My favorite QB talking about my favorite NBA player

[@guidocavalieri]

Gary Payton was a really good

[@pluggedin1169]

One of the best to ever do it

[@Naptownghost]

People misunderstood Iverson, on and off the court.

[@bassstudent4life]

Gary Payton always seems to be involved in some back story. Iverson's "practice", shaq's bbq chicken. What's next? May he told latrell sprewell to chocke pj carlesimo? who knows.

[@telamon1071]

Donovan long time no seeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

[@dougwbenson]

Minute mark 1:15 to minute mark 1:19 is hilarious..........totally out of context but hilarious!

[@massmanpro]

***** Pause

[@lokeijak]

woahhhh

[@kensley94]

Huh, so those were called *Minutes mark* back in the days.

[@majcry4188]

@@kensley94 Guess so

[@emmanuelmakoba6085]

Andy Roddick 🙌

[@michaelbenoit9240]

Never understood the Ted Lasso reference not being interested in basketball, nicely done.

[@coochykiller1519]

My boy Gary Payton

[@antwonblakemore1538]

A.I. the ONLY player I ever followed in College Killer at heart

[@brodocbetty4856]

A great scorer, Nothing else.

[@bigwooolocsta9109]

This wasn't how it went. The media made it look bad Cuz I cant find the full interview ANYWHERE

[@jaybrick8973]

Iverson was already good he didn't need to practice lol

[@jeusvox2878]

He was good because he practiced.

[@nystagmus]

Gary payton still looks young

[@yikes7298]

That's not the story behind thr "practice" thing

[@corrimahanible8165]

Yes it was..where it started

[@totravska]

Lol, reminded me of a segment shown on ESPN I think during his last attempted NFL comeback. He was knee deep in the ocean looking like a walrus, yet he was saying he was NFL ready hahaha.

[@sksinha1]

Good looking chicks usually do whatever they damn well please because they know us men put up with their crap.

[@gmn545]

AI was the greatest [volume] scorer of his time. I don't know anyone else who's led the NBA in scoring with an average of 31.4ppg on 39.8% FG.

[@Reefer-Rampage69]

2:31 Paytons face. omg

[@tyerojanasoonthon5865]

@AbdurrahmanM he's Andy roddick

[@bonnytrebaz]

1:17 pause

[@Gocartlogan]

@gmn545 well Jordan averaged 37.1 pts and shot 48.2% from the field in his third year and if your taking (volume shooter) as a inconsistent scorer then jr smith is on top of that list

[@DT-nm1te]

That impression was terrible

[@cdgtv7712]

We here in va know why he missed practice we know him very well grew up with Bubba Chuck

[@AllanJayRosal]

It's 2021 and we are still talking about practice, not the game, not the game, we're talking about practice. 😄

[@dezzepson4173]

This is the same interview where Hary Payton said "John StoCkton was the hardest to Guard".

[@cambrown421]

MISUNDERSTOOD crazy

[@Hot.head.eli904]

1:16 to 1:20 please say pause for the love of God😂😂😂

[@pedrolightining]

+elijah lawrence "When he penetrates on me, he was breaking everything down". GARY PAYTON, STOP IT!!!!

[@kasunmadhusanka]

+elijah lawrence lmao word

[@Lorenshyne]

GP is a talented actor

[@ponchoz5365]

The fact that they still making fun of him with this is crazy

[@coolkid5924]

A I. WAS ONE OF THE BEST NO QUESTION!!!

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

We're talkin' 'bout Iverson talkin' 'bout practice.

[@noacceptance20]

i dont think i would love the sport like i do now if iverson hadnt i.spired me to play i. the first place.

[@martywils28]

U cant say phili and Dog in the same sentence 😂

[@wybucher]

"-When I say Allen Iverson, what do you think of? -Practice."

[@andresalazar8118]

Nada nada a game. We thinkin bout practice.

[@MrCarterVince]

wzakrzak lol, I think of his 2001 finals performance, game 1. 48 points

[@Mr.Wonderful888]

I love Charissa ❤️

[@razkable]

shes the most sexy analyst ever...like how is she not a model

[@EmperorDazzle]

he is talking about 10 years ago, you know...when they were younger.

[@edscottable]

donovan and ai were the kings of philly in the early 2000s so im sure donovan wanted to speak more on ai as a person. he seems kinda pissed like he was interrupted or something

[@macewbee]

Yep

[@ThatKidHubert]

Hope he dont retire

[@MrTRIPent]

charrisa thompson...she is def cold as ice....youtube her she does some funny stuff...

[@jasonortiz1866]

how bout tell the good dam truth about why he said that and was annoyed with that question and quit demonizing him. you know dam well in that interview that you cut half of it out he says his friend died recently

[@edrepresentin]

Donovan face lol

[@Mariin80]

that practice thing quit to be boring 20 years ago, but ill admit, only 2 jersey's i even bought was MJ's and iverson

[@brianlev-ari1222]

AI was like a machine providing 120% every night, one time he needed a bit of space and he did not get it , that is a huge lack of trust. what is the difference between this and Rodman getting a bit space to hit Vegas? Phill knew this was the best option. anyway I love AI and Larry Brown was also amazing...

[@denisemitchell8477]

Gday luv The answer ..legend icon Cross over genius .. Treated badly braids ratios Overspoken One of the best way overrated. The Goat

[@NXTURE824]

0:40 kyrie was born 😂😂😂😂😂

[@kingsleyoppong-wereko7239]

“There will never be another little scorer I can’t think”. Well good you didn’t say that as a fact because Kyrie is better at scoring.

[@3rdeyes4theye89]

Kyrie is not 5'11 like Ai was

[@am88ification]

Is the white dude Stiffler from American Pie?

[@krazyhatter6479]

Abdurrahman M AHAHAHAHAAHAHAH GOOD ONE GOOD ONE

[@Schubertz08]

Is that Andy Roddick?

[@12clownprince]

wtf thats not even what he was talking about. watch the whole interview and youll know his friend just died and they lost and he was mad because they wanted to talk about practice when there were more important things to be doing or talking about

[@kevinofili9]

This is like if Mark Brunell announced his retirement from the NFL today....didn't this already happened?

[@dcomputers]

I guess he said it as a slang term meaning guy or dude

[@bluecollarmenproductions]

when you say allen Iverson I think of practice

[@MeloJr83]

Same

[@herogibson]

not a game... NOT A GAME! we talkin bout practice!

[@andywalker9079]

AI = basketball legend

[@badayibhai]

Why is Andy Roddick doing basketball analysis?

[@shawnkincheloesr5192]

( Now ) We’re talking about Cash Backing, it’s not a game. 😏

[@GreatValueBleach]

Is that Andy roddick?

[@emmanuelmakoba6085]

Clorox Bleach yep lol🙌

[@tannermanett1997]

Gary= the Kanye west of basketball

[@SteroidsMakeMeStrong]

Why not?

[@DangleFront]

Glad to see him finally gone. You can't like Magic and Bird and like Iverson, too.

[@sammycaro8375]

Allen iverson.

[@stebbiej]

they definitely didn't watch the AI story

[@jarenmontaos5195]

Gary Payton speaks like he still locking down Jordan in the Finals 😂

[@alih8337]

man that guy said the most exciting player to watch after MJ was only AI! lol there was kobe, T Mac, V carter u know... i mean lol

[@realcoolboy17]

You didn't watch basketball in the early 2000s did you kid? Kobe wasn't even considered a top player until 2003, during their championship run he was just an all-star piece around Shaq.

[@theredhood5863]

Ai Classic with that line and ai a goat point blank better than Barkley

[@note2owns]

Come on Gary, do not put yourself in the same talent class as Iverson. "He was there like I was" Iverson is miles better then you ever were as a player.

[@Casiemny]

AI is my fave player ever..but GP was on that greatness level also

[@viniciusbaeaminhap]

Look at the top 10 assist makers. GP is there

[@vincentiusjordan4474]

bruh...he maybe not the 1st ever pick but you certainly realize he was not just some benchwarmer in the nba right? 17 years of career full of accomplishment and had an all star number close to what AI had in total.

[@vargas218]

I wonder how many NBA/NFL players have already hit that?

[@KJBTRUTH]

Yes everyone she is hot, so what... There are millions of hot girls all over the world

[@nadinendayiziga2740]

Oh word

[@Lorenshyne]

alllEEEN?!

[@agoodjuan]

We're still taking about talking about practice?

[@william9152009]

McNabb look salty 🤦‍♂️

[@IrvDollarzZgAow]

he wasn't happy because charrissa interrupted him at 2:21 mark

[@hatetheworld04]

id practice that girl in black

[@612southsidezay]

Donovan Mcnab? LMAO

[@Josef_Favia]

GP is an Oakland legend be it pro or street! Just a flat out dog! You can never intimidate someone from the O period!

[@Iggy52]

Andy Roddick - this gig ain't for you.

[@Oldcartoons571]

You're being a fan boy. Iverson is old and was never very efficient to begin with. Why pick up Iverson if you can have a younger and better player who can give teams more at this point? You weren't really thinking to begin with if you think Iverson should still be playing.

[@Andre.06.07]

THIS makes me fucking sick. Iverson should be playing man wtf. all these players are influenced by Iverson and kobe. no one gives allen credit for bridging the urban world/hiphop world to basketball. ugh cant even think anymore