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Misunderstood: A Memoir
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A compelling and candid memoir from Allen Iverson, the NBA’s most misunderstood Hall of Famer, detailing his tough childhood in Virginia, his entry into the league as the number one overall pick, and his controversial, culture-changing pro basketball career.
In Misunderstood, Allen Iverson shares in searing clarity and touching candor his meteoric rise from impoverished child in the Virginia projects to high school champion to Georgetown University protégé of legendary coach John Thompson, and finally to NBA All-Star and Reebok’s Vice President of Basketball.
Allen Iverson is a household name—Boomers and Gen Xers watched his decades-long run as a scrappy, tenacious basketball player on the Philadelphia 76ers who redefined the sport’s style (both fashion-wise and playing-wise), while millennials and Gen Zers are perhaps more familiar with his Reebok line’s resurgence in popularity, his callout in Post Malone’s viral hit “White Iverson,” and for being the namesake of Kendall Roy’s son on Succession. Part athletic legend, part fashion icon, part hip-hop muse, Iverson was one of the first celebrities to fuse lifestyle, culture, and sports.
But while everyone may know his name, few have seen behind the curtain on Iverson’s tumultuous life. Misunderstood lifts the veil and brings you into the mind of the pugnacious, ultra-talented misfit whose foremost goal, more than fame or fortune, was always to lift his family and friends out of poverty and violence. In his memoir, Iverson explores how he completely shattered the mold dictating what an NBA star could be in the 1990s and 2000s, all while dealing with legal troubles and personal traumas that only contributed to his sense of individualism and star power. This is the unforgettable story of a trailblazer who not only changed the game of basketball but rewrote the rules of what it means to rise, fall, and rise again while staying unapologetically true to himself.
A compelling and candid memoir from Allen Iverson, the NBA’s most misunderstood Hall of Famer, detailing his tough childhood in Virginia, his entry into the league as the number one overall pick, and his controversial, culture-changing pro basketball career.
In Misunderstood, Allen Iverson shares in searing clarity and touching candor his meteoric rise from impoverished child in the Virginia projects to high school champion to Georgetown University protégé of legendary coach John Thompson, and finally to NBA All-Star and Reebok’s Vice President of Basketball.
Allen Iverson is a household name—Boomers and Gen Xers watched his decades-long run as a scrappy, tenacious basketball player on the Philadelphia 76ers who redefined the sport’s style (both fashion-wise and playing-wise), while millennials and Gen Zers are perhaps more familiar with his Reebok line’s resurgence in popularity, his callout in Post Malone’s viral hit “White Iverson,” and for being the namesake of Kendall Roy’s son on Succession. Part athletic legend, part fashion icon, part hip-hop muse, Iverson was one of the first celebrities to fuse lifestyle, culture, and sports.
But while everyone may know his name, few have seen behind the curtain on Iverson’s tumultuous life. Misunderstood lifts the veil and brings you into the mind of the pugnacious, ultra-talented misfit whose foremost goal, more than fame or fortune, was always to lift his family and friends out of poverty and violence. In his memoir, Iverson explores how he completely shattered the mold dictating what an NBA star could be in the 1990s and 2000s, all while dealing with legal troubles and personal traumas that only contributed to his sense of individualism and star power. This is the unforgettable story of a trailblazer who not only changed the game of basketball but rewrote the rules of what it means to rise, fall, and rise again while staying unapologetically true to himself.
Audible Audio
Published October 7, 2025
227 people are currently reading
953 people want to read
About the author
Allen Iverson
6 books3 followersAllen “BubbaChuck” Iverson is often known for his hard demeanor, his edgy personality and for the way he played every basketball game like it was “his last”. A skinny kid hailing from one of the rough parts of Virginia was able to find peace of mind on the hardwood.
Making his name at Bethel High School, he began his legacy showing signs of greatness whenever having the basketball in his hand. In high school, he lead his team to a state championship in both basketball and football in the same year. In 2003, his high school, Bethel High School in Hampton, VA retired his jersey; one of the first to be raised high in the Bruins gym.
Playing collegiately at Georgetown the country began to see his passion and hard work that everyone remembers of him today. Iverson averaged a school record 23.0 in his two year tenure at Georgetown. He was named first team All-America at the end of his sophomore season and was also a two time Big East Defensive Player of the year recipient. He was also named Big East Rookie of the Year his freshman season.
Professionally he was able to accomplish major goals that many believed he wouldn’t be able to obtain. Some of those including a Most Valuable Player award in 2000-2001, Rookie of the Year (1996), 4 scoring titles, 10 All-Star appearances along with 2 All-Star MVP awards.
Iverson averaged a blistering 26.7 points for his career and was considered one of the best guards in the NBA history. Known for his acrobatic and volume scoring ability he was regarded pound for pound one of the toughest player to step on the hardwood.
Iverson defeated many odds in his NBA career making a lot acceptable for some of the current players of the league today. Culturing changing the league in many ways, Iverson will go down as a major trend setter and innovator for his affect on the game.
From his infatuation with tattoos and continuing to his preference for baggy clothes followed a generation that came behind him and sought to do all he did the way he did it. But what’s interesting to note is that Iverson was just being Iverson. He preferred corn rows to his cuts after a few road trip mishaps, he chose baggy clothes because they were more comfortable, he wore an arm sleeve after a few too many injuries, he wore headbands to keep sweat from running down into his face and he used his 30 plus tattoos as a means of expression for the adversity he overcame when he made it out of the hood and onto the worlds stage as one of the best to play the game.
It is argued that no more player had a bigger influence on pop culture than AI. He made it okay for young people to be themselves.
Making his name at Bethel High School, he began his legacy showing signs of greatness whenever having the basketball in his hand. In high school, he lead his team to a state championship in both basketball and football in the same year. In 2003, his high school, Bethel High School in Hampton, VA retired his jersey; one of the first to be raised high in the Bruins gym.
Playing collegiately at Georgetown the country began to see his passion and hard work that everyone remembers of him today. Iverson averaged a school record 23.0 in his two year tenure at Georgetown. He was named first team All-America at the end of his sophomore season and was also a two time Big East Defensive Player of the year recipient. He was also named Big East Rookie of the Year his freshman season.
Professionally he was able to accomplish major goals that many believed he wouldn’t be able to obtain. Some of those including a Most Valuable Player award in 2000-2001, Rookie of the Year (1996), 4 scoring titles, 10 All-Star appearances along with 2 All-Star MVP awards.
Iverson averaged a blistering 26.7 points for his career and was considered one of the best guards in the NBA history. Known for his acrobatic and volume scoring ability he was regarded pound for pound one of the toughest player to step on the hardwood.
Iverson defeated many odds in his NBA career making a lot acceptable for some of the current players of the league today. Culturing changing the league in many ways, Iverson will go down as a major trend setter and innovator for his affect on the game.
From his infatuation with tattoos and continuing to his preference for baggy clothes followed a generation that came behind him and sought to do all he did the way he did it. But what’s interesting to note is that Iverson was just being Iverson. He preferred corn rows to his cuts after a few road trip mishaps, he chose baggy clothes because they were more comfortable, he wore an arm sleeve after a few too many injuries, he wore headbands to keep sweat from running down into his face and he used his 30 plus tattoos as a means of expression for the adversity he overcame when he made it out of the hood and onto the worlds stage as one of the best to play the game.
It is argued that no more player had a bigger influence on pop culture than AI. He made it okay for young people to be themselves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
January 11, 2026
Inspirational and incredible.
November 27, 2025
I’m drawn to sports memoirs especially and in Misunderstood, Allen Iverson shares his story. He had a very tough upbringing in Hampton, Virginia. He dealt with family issues and legal troubles before attending Georgetown University, playing under esteemed coach, John Thompson, before playing in the NBA.
I appreciate The Answer sharing his story and admire all he overcame to have the success he did as a player. Misunderstood focused a lot on his early life, pre-NBA. I recognize basketball is only one aspect of Iverson as a person, though I was personally hoping for more NBA and post-retirement content.
I appreciate The Answer sharing his story and admire all he overcame to have the success he did as a player. Misunderstood focused a lot on his early life, pre-NBA. I recognize basketball is only one aspect of Iverson as a person, though I was personally hoping for more NBA and post-retirement content.
October 24, 2025
As someone who lived in Hampton, Virginia during Iverson’s rise, this memoir hit different. I remember the local buzz around his football and basketball days, and later the storm that came with the bowling alley incident—seeing it unfold on ESPN from afar while serving in the military.
Reading Misunderstood brought all that back. Iverson tells his story with raw honesty—no filters, no excuses. You can feel the weight of being judged before being understood. The book reminded me that his talent was only half the story; the other half was survival.
Whether you’re a fan of basketball or just someone who knows what it feels like to be written off too soon, this one’s worth your time.
Reading Misunderstood brought all that back. Iverson tells his story with raw honesty—no filters, no excuses. You can feel the weight of being judged before being understood. The book reminded me that his talent was only half the story; the other half was survival.
Whether you’re a fan of basketball or just someone who knows what it feels like to be written off too soon, this one’s worth your time.
October 16, 2025
I hate when people say this… but review coming soon lol I just respect the answer too much.
Want to read
August 27, 2025Growing up in Philly during Allen Iverson's basketball reign was truly the best! I was young and not really into sports or basketball then but of course I was rooting for A.I. and the 76ers (and always will)! You could not go anywhere without seeing someone in one of his jerseys and yes everyone had the "Iverson braids", including me! I am excited for this memoir and I cannot wait to read his story!
November 6, 2025
I am a huge Iverson fan. I would watch him play then go outside and practice my dribble for hours, trying to imitate his signature crossover. That catch and shoot jumper Larry Brown would call for him several times a game was so smooth; and who can ever forget that 2001 Finals run? Iverson was The Answer — the biggest little man of his time.
I picked up this book because I wanted to learn more about his story in his own words. The book starts with Iverson telling the story of his grandmother and mother. From there, it focuses a lot on Iverson the athlete. Those parts of the story read like a highlight reel with Iverson sharing game stats for both he and his teammates. He does this starting from youth sports, moving to his time at Georgetown and through to the 2001 finals run. While it was nice at first, as the book progressed it started to get a little monotonous. For ex. he talked about how many points he scored during nearly every game of his NCAA tourney run, who was guarding him and the crowds reaction to his big plays. The problem wasn’t in sharing the information per se, it was the repetitive nature of how it was told. I don’t think the reader needs that level of detail to understand how big of a star he was.
In some parts of the story he does focus on other aspects of his life. For example he talks about his trial, his family and his friends. I feel this information is there to highlight why he is so loyal and also why he feels he’s always been misunderstood…mostly because of the people he is loyal to. He also talks about the close relationship he had with Coach Thompson and Coach Brown. However, outside of that, there isn’t much revealed about Allen the man. Everything that is shared is easy to find on Google or probably known by anyone who has casually followed his career.
What I wasn’t sure how to interpret is when he starts to talk about the struggles he had once he made it to the league. While I completely agree that Iverson paved the way for the free expression we see from today’s players, he also had some missteps in how he interacted with coaches, owners, teammates and the media. He touches on it, but he doesn’t reflect on whether now, years later, he would’ve approached things the same way. Maybe to some degree he does that because he continues to reference how he wanted to “do things my way”, but it would’ve been nice to get insight into how he feels today. There was so much personal growth Iverson displayed towards the later stages of his career that it just would’ve been nice to get some background on how that came to be.
Overall I enjoyed the book, but it reads like a retelling by an observant rather than providing any first hand insight. It seems more geared towards new fans or those who weren’t around to witness his career which isn’t a bad thing, it just wasn’t what I was looking for.
I picked up this book because I wanted to learn more about his story in his own words. The book starts with Iverson telling the story of his grandmother and mother. From there, it focuses a lot on Iverson the athlete. Those parts of the story read like a highlight reel with Iverson sharing game stats for both he and his teammates. He does this starting from youth sports, moving to his time at Georgetown and through to the 2001 finals run. While it was nice at first, as the book progressed it started to get a little monotonous. For ex. he talked about how many points he scored during nearly every game of his NCAA tourney run, who was guarding him and the crowds reaction to his big plays. The problem wasn’t in sharing the information per se, it was the repetitive nature of how it was told. I don’t think the reader needs that level of detail to understand how big of a star he was.
In some parts of the story he does focus on other aspects of his life. For example he talks about his trial, his family and his friends. I feel this information is there to highlight why he is so loyal and also why he feels he’s always been misunderstood…mostly because of the people he is loyal to. He also talks about the close relationship he had with Coach Thompson and Coach Brown. However, outside of that, there isn’t much revealed about Allen the man. Everything that is shared is easy to find on Google or probably known by anyone who has casually followed his career.
What I wasn’t sure how to interpret is when he starts to talk about the struggles he had once he made it to the league. While I completely agree that Iverson paved the way for the free expression we see from today’s players, he also had some missteps in how he interacted with coaches, owners, teammates and the media. He touches on it, but he doesn’t reflect on whether now, years later, he would’ve approached things the same way. Maybe to some degree he does that because he continues to reference how he wanted to “do things my way”, but it would’ve been nice to get insight into how he feels today. There was so much personal growth Iverson displayed towards the later stages of his career that it just would’ve been nice to get some background on how that came to be.
Overall I enjoyed the book, but it reads like a retelling by an observant rather than providing any first hand insight. It seems more geared towards new fans or those who weren’t around to witness his career which isn’t a bad thing, it just wasn’t what I was looking for.
November 2, 2025
I remember living in the US in the early 00s. Being into sports and having grown up idolising Micheal Jordan, me and my brothers naturally gravitated towards the NBA. And man, our boy AI... he was the MAN! I had the Iverson sweatbands and pretty sure I had the shoes at some point as well.
Fast forward 25 years and I'm still obsessed by Allen Iverson. As I saw this book I bought it. And while listening to it over the last couple of weeks I've been scouring YouTube for highlight reels. I dare anyone to watch his Hall of Fame induction speech with a dry eye. That's the type of guy he is. Extraordinary, emotional, wore his heart on his sleeve.
Which leads me to Misunderstood. With everything said above I can't help but feel disappointed. The chapters on him growing up are great. You really get a feel for the love and heartbreak of his life.
However, the chapters from Georgetown to the NBA just felt like one long sports almanac, listing the Iverson stats. And it ends really apruptly after the loss to the Lakers in the NBA finals. I wanted to know more about his career. When Larry Brown left, AI leaving the Sixers, returning to the Sixers, retirment - this was all left out.
More than anything, I wanted to know more about Allen Iverson the man. His achievements are all available on Wikipedia. But not Allen the father, Allen the husband. And his decision to stop drinking.
For a guy who played with his heart on his sleeve the book was remarkably tame on Allen's mistakes (he often says he's made a lot) or whatever he learned from them.
In all honesty, I think a better title would have been 'Me and my life in basketball'. I didnt really get much about being misunderstood.
2.5 stars. But it's Allen Iverson, so 3
Fast forward 25 years and I'm still obsessed by Allen Iverson. As I saw this book I bought it. And while listening to it over the last couple of weeks I've been scouring YouTube for highlight reels. I dare anyone to watch his Hall of Fame induction speech with a dry eye. That's the type of guy he is. Extraordinary, emotional, wore his heart on his sleeve.
Which leads me to Misunderstood. With everything said above I can't help but feel disappointed. The chapters on him growing up are great. You really get a feel for the love and heartbreak of his life.
However, the chapters from Georgetown to the NBA just felt like one long sports almanac, listing the Iverson stats. And it ends really apruptly after the loss to the Lakers in the NBA finals. I wanted to know more about his career. When Larry Brown left, AI leaving the Sixers, returning to the Sixers, retirment - this was all left out.
More than anything, I wanted to know more about Allen Iverson the man. His achievements are all available on Wikipedia. But not Allen the father, Allen the husband. And his decision to stop drinking.
For a guy who played with his heart on his sleeve the book was remarkably tame on Allen's mistakes (he often says he's made a lot) or whatever he learned from them.
In all honesty, I think a better title would have been 'Me and my life in basketball'. I didnt really get much about being misunderstood.
2.5 stars. But it's Allen Iverson, so 3
November 2, 2025
I have read a couple of biographies about Allen Iverson, but it’s nothing like having the subject speak in his own voice offering the only authentic perspective. This was an enjoyable read, and to be inside Iverson’s head as his fame is growing is priceless. He seemed very aware at an early age that he was destined for big things, but he wasn’t ever big-headed about it, just sort of matter of fact.
What was important in his life was that his friends and family also knew he was the MAN and they acted accordingly. Keeping him out of harms way. Even in the infamous bowling alley incident, a friend ushered him out of the place before things got crazy. But, being the biggest name in the bowling alley that night, prosecutors wanted to show that popularity was no shield against what they considered “criminal activity” and the almost end of Allen Iverson the NBA legend was in forward motion.
Thankfully, Governor Wilder shifted the direction of that runaway train and Iverson from that day to now has proven what a great decision that was, and we(fans of fairness and justice)have all benefited greatly. This aptly titled memoir should bring readers to a new understanding of Allen Iverson.
What was important in his life was that his friends and family also knew he was the MAN and they acted accordingly. Keeping him out of harms way. Even in the infamous bowling alley incident, a friend ushered him out of the place before things got crazy. But, being the biggest name in the bowling alley that night, prosecutors wanted to show that popularity was no shield against what they considered “criminal activity” and the almost end of Allen Iverson the NBA legend was in forward motion.
Thankfully, Governor Wilder shifted the direction of that runaway train and Iverson from that day to now has proven what a great decision that was, and we(fans of fairness and justice)have all benefited greatly. This aptly titled memoir should bring readers to a new understanding of Allen Iverson.
November 15, 2025
Of Course I Loved It
When this book was announced, numerous people reached out to me to tell me it was coming. Folks know that I am a big fan of Bubba Chuck. Shortly after he was drafted to the Sixers, I arrived in Philly as a transfer student to Temple University. So many of my collegiate memories include AI. I remember how the city idolized him. I remember seeing him around the city and hanging out on my campus. His presence was larger than life. He poured so much of himself into this book in the same way that he did on the basketball court. I loved everything about it, but my favorite part was what he shared about his bond with John Thompson. It made me so emotional. This was a phenomenal read. I cannot wait to get to his book tour and see my favorite hooper in person again.
When this book was announced, numerous people reached out to me to tell me it was coming. Folks know that I am a big fan of Bubba Chuck. Shortly after he was drafted to the Sixers, I arrived in Philly as a transfer student to Temple University. So many of my collegiate memories include AI. I remember how the city idolized him. I remember seeing him around the city and hanging out on my campus. His presence was larger than life. He poured so much of himself into this book in the same way that he did on the basketball court. I loved everything about it, but my favorite part was what he shared about his bond with John Thompson. It made me so emotional. This was a phenomenal read. I cannot wait to get to his book tour and see my favorite hooper in person again.
October 20, 2025
A smooth and engaging read. The book feels authentic, like he’s really sitting across from you telling his story. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that a lot was left out. The early parts of his life and the lead up to the NBA are solid, but once he makes it to the league, the book starts moving too fast. He touches on his rookie year, then skips ahead to the MVP season and the later honors, without filling in the journey in between. I would’ve liked to hear more about the tougher moments you dig? Some about the legal issues, his complicated run with the Sixers, and how things fell apart toward the end of his career. It’s honest but incomplete, more of a highlight than a full story. Maybe that’s the shit between a memoir when compared to a biography, one gives you the man’s voice, the other gives you his whole life.
October 17, 2025
It was a slightly interesting and easy to follow read, but it left out too much of his story. It was like once he got to the NBA, he talked about his first year and then jumped to the MVP season and then being picked for the 75th anniversary. I would have loved more details about his life of the court , legal troubles, his short lived rap career, struggles playing for the sixers, and then being traded and how his career ended. I guess this is why I prefer biographies over autobiographies and memoirs.
November 7, 2025
Book 59 of 2025
The only AI I recognize is The Answer aka Allen Iverson!
I’ve been a fan since his Georgetown days, was at the NBA draft in NJ when he was selected #1 overall (wearing my G-Town jersey)
This book was good, detailing his life/career from his childhood to the NBA Finals!
Practice??? You talking about Practice????
A must read for any AI or basketball fan!
The only AI I recognize is The Answer aka Allen Iverson!
I’ve been a fan since his Georgetown days, was at the NBA draft in NJ when he was selected #1 overall (wearing my G-Town jersey)
This book was good, detailing his life/career from his childhood to the NBA Finals!
Practice??? You talking about Practice????
A must read for any AI or basketball fan!
Read
November 20, 2025*I do not rate NF books.*
Thank you so much to Gallery Books for the complimentary copy of this book!
Thank you so much to Simon Audio for the complimentary ALC!
This book is out now!
If you don’t know, I am a Philly sports fan. I follow all the major sports with football being my favorite. I follow the Sixers but I can’t say I am a huge fan. Though I may become a bandwagoner because the 2025 team is lightyears better than the past couple of years. It has made the team exciting again. So naturally it has put me in a basketball frame of mind and knew it was time to read about one of the greatest Philadelphia Sixers player – Allen Iverson.
Since I was not a follower my knowledge of AI was very limited. I knew the basic information about him – he is a beloved player for the city and was a damn good one. If you think you are going to get this juicy filled book of Iverson’s time in the NBA – think again. I had looked at my time left and you only get to him joining the NBA around 75% into the book. With that ¾ of the book is about him growing up in Virginia, high school sports career and challenges and then into college.
He spoke so highly on those games that he experienced in his high school and college time. Those felt like more pressure and high intensity compared to the games he played while in the NBA. One thing I learned which I should not be surprised because I feel like this happens with a lot of professional athletes, but the sport that he excelled at the most growing up was football. It wasn’t until high school where he really started taking playing basketball seriously. Iverson was just such a gifted athlete that he was able to balance both.
This book went into his legal troubles (dude been through so much by the time he was 15!), how he bounced back, the positive influences in his life and how he changed basketball culture in the 90s. Also how cool that he was friends with Biggie!!!
I was looking through other reviews and people were saying that there wasn’t enough about Iverson during this time. That is hard for me to saying if that was something that was lacking as I literally had no knowledge of anything about him or his career so I felt like I learned a lot about him. Perhaps someone who has knowledge of his career knew all the stuff that was mentioned. I do plan on watching his doc on Prime to compare and to see faces to names.
I was surprised that Iverson did not narrator his memoir. Instead it was actor JaQwan J. Kelly. This is the first time I listened to him narrate but it looks like he has done a few books already so he is well versed in voice work. I thought he did a great job with the text. I just wish Iverson had narrated as it always is more meaningful when you hear the person tell their story themself (which is also why I wanted to watch the doc).
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I think other sport fans would enjoy as well especially those who are a fan of Philadelphia sports.
Thank you so much to Gallery Books for the complimentary copy of this book!
Thank you so much to Simon Audio for the complimentary ALC!
This book is out now!
If you don’t know, I am a Philly sports fan. I follow all the major sports with football being my favorite. I follow the Sixers but I can’t say I am a huge fan. Though I may become a bandwagoner because the 2025 team is lightyears better than the past couple of years. It has made the team exciting again. So naturally it has put me in a basketball frame of mind and knew it was time to read about one of the greatest Philadelphia Sixers player – Allen Iverson.
Since I was not a follower my knowledge of AI was very limited. I knew the basic information about him – he is a beloved player for the city and was a damn good one. If you think you are going to get this juicy filled book of Iverson’s time in the NBA – think again. I had looked at my time left and you only get to him joining the NBA around 75% into the book. With that ¾ of the book is about him growing up in Virginia, high school sports career and challenges and then into college.
He spoke so highly on those games that he experienced in his high school and college time. Those felt like more pressure and high intensity compared to the games he played while in the NBA. One thing I learned which I should not be surprised because I feel like this happens with a lot of professional athletes, but the sport that he excelled at the most growing up was football. It wasn’t until high school where he really started taking playing basketball seriously. Iverson was just such a gifted athlete that he was able to balance both.
This book went into his legal troubles (dude been through so much by the time he was 15!), how he bounced back, the positive influences in his life and how he changed basketball culture in the 90s. Also how cool that he was friends with Biggie!!!
I was looking through other reviews and people were saying that there wasn’t enough about Iverson during this time. That is hard for me to saying if that was something that was lacking as I literally had no knowledge of anything about him or his career so I felt like I learned a lot about him. Perhaps someone who has knowledge of his career knew all the stuff that was mentioned. I do plan on watching his doc on Prime to compare and to see faces to names.
I was surprised that Iverson did not narrator his memoir. Instead it was actor JaQwan J. Kelly. This is the first time I listened to him narrate but it looks like he has done a few books already so he is well versed in voice work. I thought he did a great job with the text. I just wish Iverson had narrated as it always is more meaningful when you hear the person tell their story themself (which is also why I wanted to watch the doc).
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I think other sport fans would enjoy as well especially those who are a fan of Philadelphia sports.
November 9, 2025
If you ever wondered the real reason behind “we talking about practice?”
Growing up in Philly, Allen Iverson was everything, the reason I love basketball, and why I’ve always ran my own race and never sought to be something I’m not.
Shoutout Bubba Chuck
Growing up in Philly, Allen Iverson was everything, the reason I love basketball, and why I’ve always ran my own race and never sought to be something I’m not.
Shoutout Bubba Chuck
October 26, 2025
Iverson is my favourite basketball player, so when he announced he was releasing a memoir, I was super excited. I loved that the book focused mainly on his basketball career instead of the gossip that surrounded him in those days. He did open up about his upbringing, family and friends, the court case, and his public image, but he got the most personal when talking about his relationship with basketball. You could really feel his deep passion for the game. I also loved how the memoir was written—it felt like having a genuine conversation with him. All in all, it was a powerful book, and I’m so happy that Iverson is in a place in his life where he’s being celebrated.
October 15, 2025
I enjoy reading about him from his childhood to where he arrived. I could’ve used more insight on his personal life and not so much about the basketball stats like kids, marriage, and mental health part that challenged him.
January 23, 2026
Book Review
📚 Book Title: Misunderstood: A Memoir
✍🏽Author: Allen Iverson
🎙️Narrator: JaQwan J. Kelly
📕 Format: 📖➕ 🎧
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🕑Quick Take:
Allen Iverson gives us a glimpse into his life growing up between Newport News and Hampton, VA. He shared his rise to basketball fame while attending Bethel High School, his wrongful conviction and clemency, his time at Georgetown, and his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. AI, The Answer, Bubbachuck, was heavily criticized and often misunderstood, but in hindsight he set the stage for today’s players.
🎭 Narration:
JaQwan J. Kelly did an excellent job narrating AI’s story. However, I would have loved if Allen had narrated his story himself or maybe JD Jackson, who sounds a bit more like him to me. Just my opinion. Again, not to detract from Kelly’s excellent performance.
💭Final Thoughts:
As a Chicago girl and a Bulls fan, I knew of AI but wasn’t as knowledgeable about the man and the ins and outs of his life, as well as the weight of the criticism he bore. On top of that, this man essentially carried his entire family and community on his back under the scrutiny of people who really didn't understand the reasons behind his hustle and grit. Nevertheless, I appreciated that he remained true to himself and don’t want to impose the same judgment on today’s generation of ballplayers. This story shared his resilience and the divine favor on his life to overcome obstacles.
📚 Book Title: Misunderstood: A Memoir
✍🏽Author: Allen Iverson
🎙️Narrator: JaQwan J. Kelly
📕 Format: 📖➕ 🎧
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🕑Quick Take:
Allen Iverson gives us a glimpse into his life growing up between Newport News and Hampton, VA. He shared his rise to basketball fame while attending Bethel High School, his wrongful conviction and clemency, his time at Georgetown, and his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. AI, The Answer, Bubbachuck, was heavily criticized and often misunderstood, but in hindsight he set the stage for today’s players.
🎭 Narration:
JaQwan J. Kelly did an excellent job narrating AI’s story. However, I would have loved if Allen had narrated his story himself or maybe JD Jackson, who sounds a bit more like him to me. Just my opinion. Again, not to detract from Kelly’s excellent performance.
💭Final Thoughts:
As a Chicago girl and a Bulls fan, I knew of AI but wasn’t as knowledgeable about the man and the ins and outs of his life, as well as the weight of the criticism he bore. On top of that, this man essentially carried his entire family and community on his back under the scrutiny of people who really didn't understand the reasons behind his hustle and grit. Nevertheless, I appreciated that he remained true to himself and don’t want to impose the same judgment on today’s generation of ballplayers. This story shared his resilience and the divine favor on his life to overcome obstacles.
January 3, 2026
It was interesting to relive some of the moments from AI’s career. I always admired him as a player as at 6.0’ and 165 lbs, no one played harder. In todays NBA with load management and players taking games off, Iverson stands out for his grit. The book doesn’t have a whole lot of depth with a good bit of details about individual games and his performance. Though I did learn about his early years and his unjust imprisonment during what would have been his senior year of high school. Interesting to consider Iverson as a QB on a college football team given his preference for football over basketball. The author sets a new record for use of M_ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _ r in a book. His editor and collaborators must have had a time allowing AI’s written words to be consistent with his spoken words.
December 4, 2025
solid memoir from nba icon allen iverson. we hear his story as a youth football star to being in the nba and many of the struggles he went through along the way. people (the press, the public, even nba rivals) were way too hard on him, especially when he infamously missed practice to grieve the death of his best friend. he pushed forward and became a legend and paved the way for so many that came after.
his memoir is well written (has a lot of gameplay details that some might find boring) and feels authentic. i do wish he had narrated his own audiobook though!
side note: many agree that had ai been taller, he would be part of the goat conversation. but it's fun that he actually tells us some of his rankings in this book lol i was not expecting that!
4.5 stars
his memoir is well written (has a lot of gameplay details that some might find boring) and feels authentic. i do wish he had narrated his own audiobook though!
side note: many agree that had ai been taller, he would be part of the goat conversation. but it's fun that he actually tells us some of his rankings in this book lol i was not expecting that!
4.5 stars
December 18, 2025
I had a very low opinion of Allen Iverson as a person before reading this book and I have a very low opinion of Allen Iverson after reading this book.
Some fun statistics for numbers lovers like myself:
332 - Number of pages in this book
6 - Number of pages in this book after the year 2001 (when he was 26 years old)
5489 - An approximate count of the number of times he used the MF word
0 - Things about Allen Iverson as a person that make me say, wow what a great guy
Some fun statistics for numbers lovers like myself:
332 - Number of pages in this book
6 - Number of pages in this book after the year 2001 (when he was 26 years old)
5489 - An approximate count of the number of times he used the MF word
0 - Things about Allen Iverson as a person that make me say, wow what a great guy
November 27, 2025
Loved it
January 23, 2026
This was what I wanted it to be
October 23, 2025
In Misunderstood, Allen Iverson finally tells his own story—the full story—behind the tattoos, the cornrows, and the iconic crossover that redefined basketball. What emerges is not just the tale of an athlete, but of a man caught between authenticity and expectation, between the raw honesty of his upbringing and the polished image the world demanded of him.
Iverson’s memoir is both revelation and reclamation. The title itself—Misunderstood—is a declaration of intent: to set the record straight, to give context to the controversies, and to reveal the person behind the myth. Through vivid reflection, he shows how his individuality, often criticized, became a symbol of cultural change in sports and beyond.
This is not a victory lap; it’s a reckoning. Iverson confronts the costs of fame, the pain of public judgment, and the lessons learned from hardship. Yet what stands out most is his resilience—the spirit of someone who never stopped being himself, even when the world didn’t understand.
Misunderstood is more than a sports memoir; it’s a study of identity, race, class, and defiance in modern America. Powerful, emotional, and deeply human, it reminds us that legends aren’t just made on the court—they’re forged in the struggle to stay true to who you are.
Rating: 5/5
So in that first press conference after ending our season, after losing, not one question about those games. They wanted to talk about practice?
So I said what I said in that press conference. And that’s where it all came from. And everything in my life has been like that. People wanting something from me that I couldn’t understand. And they misunderstood me—that where I came from, what I’d been through, made me different. I mean, to me, practice wasn’t that important. Not compared to the games. Not compared to my friends and family.
I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we’re in here talking about practice. I mean, listen, we’re talking about practice. Not a game! Not a game! Not a game! We’re talking about practice. Not a game. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game like it’s my last. Not the game. We’re talking about practice, man. I mean, how silly is that?
One uncle was called Bubba and the other was Chuck. Well, they got to arguing that I should get one of their nicknames as my own, and my mom said, “You know what, you both can be right. Bubbachuck.” And so that’s what it was from that day forward. Everybody called me Bubbachuck, sometimes just “Bubba,” or mostly just “Chuck.” You watch my games from when I was a kid, even the announcers called me that. And to this day, among my family, my friends, and when I go home, it’s “Bubbachuck.”
Stevie and Greg both played football at Bethel. They were good but weren’t pros or anything. I liked watching them. Then as soon as I could run, I demanded to play with them. They could see my quickness. Just give me the football. I’d take it and just go, freedom in running wild among the older dudes—we’d see if any of them could knock me down. Of course they could. They would tackle my ass again and again. Didn’t matter how many times. I just said, “Let’s do it again,” because I wanted to do it until they couldn’t fuck with me anymore, until I beat their asses. That was something I always did: just kept going until I could win.
But man, it wasn’t much later that kids around me, twelve and thirteen years old, started sniffing powder. I remember these dudes, they were like, “Hit this, Chuck, hit this.” I was like, “Nah.” “Man you a little bitch, Chuck.” I was terrified because I always heard that drugs were bad, to the point that you could die from it. If you did drugs, you couldn’t play in the NBA or NFL. So I didn’t mess with any drugs.
One of the biggest lessons he taught at the beginning was “If it’s between you and me, it’s me.” What that meant was if it’s you and me and the end zone, I’m making that tackle. Or if I have the ball, I’m scoring that touchdown. It was just knowing that out of all these people in the world who are talented, out of all of these people who are gifted, all these people fighting for the same shit, why can’t it be me? It was about putting yourself first when it came to sports, but also in life. It was about having confidence. In the hood, there is fear. There’s hesitation. And you had a lot of kids with low self-esteem. And what it comes down to is just asking yourself, Why can’t it be me? Scoring the touchdown. Making the tackle. Shit, becoming president.
We walked onto the court. And I didn’t even have to start playing. That’s the crazy part. I saw all the dudes I knew from around the way, from playing football, and here they were in the gym. And I was just thinking to myself, why not me? So I just sat there watching. I must have watched for ten, fifteen minutes. I had to see the moves they made, the way they shot the ball. And then I was ready. It was the way I learned—visually. It’s still the way I think and learn. It was like this: Since I was little, I was an artist. I could see something and draw it, recreate it on the page. And that’s how it was with sports. I would watch, then imagine myself doing it. Then go out and do it.
All I could say to my mom was, “Thank you Mom, thank you Mom, I appreciate that.” She knew better than me. You know when your mom tells you something, and goddammit she’s right? “Eat this, it’s good!” And then, Oh shit, it’s delicious. That was me with basketball.
At the time, I loved it. I had money in my pocket. I bought what I wanted. I had the shoes. I had the clothes. It was as great as I could imagine. You have to understand, I never really had anything, and now I could get what I wanted, when I wanted.
I had a taste of money, a taste of hustling. I was trying to provide for my sister. I was taking care of my mom as much as I could. No one was getting me out of there. But they started saying it more and more.
It was over right there. We won 27–0. We were state champions. When the horn sounded, our crowd flooded the field. The song “Celebration” played on the speakers. Everyone was there. The TV crew came to interview me. I’ll never forget it. Mo and many others will tell you that in that moment of victory, of conquering everybody, I actually arrived at the beginning of the end.
The interviewer asked me on the broadcast, since I was only a junior, what was next for me? I said exactly what was on my mind. It was something I think a lot of people didn’t care too much for. And maybe it was why some people later wanted to put me in my place. I don’t know. So to answer the question, what I said was “Gonna go get one in basketball now, that’s all.” I think they were expecting me to say something about football. Sad part is, I would never play football again. Not one game.
She’s part of the reason I don’t want anyone to think, as tough as some things were, that I had it bad. Man, I had all kinds of fun. I had family. I had my girl. And I was a star.
And I just said to him, “Think of the ball going through the uprights.” That’s what I always did—visualized what I would do with my body to manipulate the world around me, then do it. Didn’t matter if it was football or basketball or drawing. And so that’s what I said for him to do. Visualize kicking the ball through the uprights.
I did not ease in. Nope. Three days after winning the state football championship, I did this: scored 37 points, got 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 7 steals, and 2 blocks. And we beat Tawanna’s school, Kecoughtan, in their own gym, 73–68.
Then, I spoke to Nana. Since I had been reading the Bible, I said to her, “If I wasn’t guilty, why would God do this to me?” I was almost crying. It wasn’t just my future I was sweating. She had her health issues, and I didn’t want this to be her last memory of me. She said something I’ll never forget: “Never question God.” She had a way of setting me straight. So all of this was telling me I had to be patient.
A few nights later, we made our first trip to Hartford to face off against the University of Connecticut, ranked No. 2 in the nation. They had a dude who I had never played against growing up, but who obviously became one of the greats, Ray Allen. A sophomore, he was making a name for himself that season. And it wasn’t no one-man show. They had Kevin Ollie, Doron Sheffer, and Donny Marshall. But Ray was their man, and at that moment me and him were neck-and-neck for Big East scoring lead.
In Philly, the dudes in the crowd wore prison suits. In DC, our crowd wore presidential suits. But during warm-ups, the crowd’s murmurs were not for me. A bunch of Secret Service was there and just before tip-off, in walked Bill Clinton. Georgetown was his alma mater. I tried to keep it serious, put my game face on. But goddammit, I was going crazy. It always mattered to me who was watching. So on this night, it was the president of the United States—I had to bring it.
Man look—I was in jail a little over a year earlier, shooting baskets in the prison yard. Now this. At the time, I never gave myself even a second to reflect, the whiplash of being shackled one moment… and now free, now fucking grabbing my future by the throat. And with the president here to see it. With hindsight, I can’t believe I did it. Back then, I was like, Of course this is my path.
In Tallahassee, I got a call in my hotel room. It was Coach Thompson. He wanted to speak with me. I walked to his room wondering what was up, what kind of trouble I was in. He looked all serious as I entered. “I’m going to tell you something that I haven’t told you all year.” It sounded so terrible. Like the man was about to tell me I couldn’t play in the game or some shit. “I’m proud of you,” he said. “Regardless of what happens at the end of this year, I want you to know that.”
In my head, I was like, Okay, and…? But that was it. He didn’t even dismiss me with a couple of “motherfuckers” at the end. Not knowing what to do, I nodded and just shook his hand. Walked right on out of there. He said later, “My kids are more comfortable with me when I’m fussing at them and cursing at them or being boisterous. I guess he didn’t know what the hell’s going on with Coach—he’s being nice to me.” Looking back now with thirty years of hindsight, I can see what he was doing. When I say Coach Thompson saved my life, it wasn’t just a scholarship, a chance at basketball. It was the faith he put in me and the confidence that his faith, his belief, gave me
Coach Thompson, always managing the audience, said to me, “It is not a time to gloat.” Well, thirty years later, writing my motherfucking book, maybe I can now gloat. Just Do It? You didn’t do shit but railroad a kid. That’s what goes through my head now. I felt it then probably, but more than anything, that shit was done. I was glad to win. I was glad my family was happy. I was glad it was over, like over over over. And I wasn’t looking back.
I got home that summer, confident about my game and my future. That August I would travel to Japan for my first overseas trip. That was because Me, Othella, and Jerome all had been selected to represent the United States in the World University Games, along with guys like Tim Duncan, Ray Allen, and Kerry Kittles. I knew then that I would play at Georgetown at least one more year, but I also knew eventually I would get paid
That set up the NIT semifinal just before Thanksgiving against Georgia Tech at Madison Square Garden, which hosted the semifinal and the final. It was just what I wanted, and what everyone wanted because Georgia Tech had the most hyped freshman of the new season, making his return to New York—Stephon Marbury.
What I learned was that the crossover is a person being scared of your first step. That’s what makes it so vicious, so deadly. So I would look into the defender’s eyes, could tell by the way his feet moved if he was scared. I might fake him one time with a little right to left or left to right, and then I do the real one and most of the time they go for it. What I added, what became my signature, was I would bring the ball high and away from my body, with a little cradle in my hand, where I could almost pause it, watch the defender, before deciding. Cross him over or use that first step and blow by.
I said to her, “Dream, baby, why you going to wear a sweat suit to the Hall of Fame?” She was just like, “It’s what I like to wear. They have my name on them.”
My heart nearly broke, man. Hearing her proud of that name. Hearing her dead-set on being herself no matter the occasion. She’s my legacy. All my kids are. And really, all the dudes who are out there playing in the NBA, free to be themselves. They are my legacy, too. Because when I think back to the beginning of my NBA career, especially that first year, man, my success, my survival, it was all just as much about me staying true to myself as it was about what I did on the court. Because damn, didn’t a lot of people express a lot of hate each and every step of the way. But I don’t want you to think I’m some perfect, laid-back father. We still made Dream wear a dress! I was only going to be inducted to the Hall of Fame once.
If I was the first pick here is what I was going to get: three years and about $9 million. If I was the fourth pick, it would be three years and $6.7 million. So a few million was in the balance. It really wasn’t the money though. That’s because even before I got picked, I got paid. About a week before the draft even happened, Falk negotiated and I signed my first sneaker deal—$50 million for ten years. No matter what happened next, I was getting out of the hood. And I was bringing everyone with me.
Even then I didn’t know know. Finally David Stern, the NBA commissioner—who later had all kinds of problems with me—walked on up to the podium. “With the first pick in the draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select… Allen Iverson from Georgetown University.”
I picked up my little baby off my lap and kissed her head. I handed her to my mother and kissed her. I was so elated, I just smiled. I hugged all my family members there. Cheers in the crowd. I had to go shake the commissioner’s hand next but first I left our table and went over to the side. Waiting for me were Ra, Marlon, and Arnie. I hugged those dudes. Then I turned back around to go on the stage. I kind of put my game face on, like how I felt I was supposed to be. But when I got on the stage, seeing the commissioner, putting on my Sixers hat, I just had to smile like a little kid. I had made it.
Some hated that Hampton was celebrating its first-ever number one pick in the draft. One lady held a sign that said, “Millions do not a hero make. Morals do.” As the mayor put it, “
The second game was different. We were playing the Bulls in Chicago. Before the game even started, their crowd went crazy because those dudes got their rings. The year before, the Bulls won 72 games and the championship. MJ had come back from baseball when I was a freshman at Georgetown. Since then he had won another championship. It was their home opener, and here he was in front of me getting the hardware.
I was just like, Nah man, I ain’t doing that. I don’t need to do that. I had my friends and family there. I wasn’t going to be someone else around them, that’s for damn sure. I was going to be me, dress the way I wanted, act the way I wanted. Something I’ve always believed is that since everybody else is taken up, the only option is for me to be me. And Coach Davis understood—my style was my choice.
He said, “Would you please clarify how you feel about the fifty greatest players here today?” I told you, I couldn’t shake it. I respected the hell out of them. Of course I did. Yet here I was just having won the game, distributed the ball first and foremost, earned the MVP, and the questions remained the same. I said how I felt: “Without those players there would be no Allen Iverson. Those guys paved the way for me.”
Right before he died, they released “Hypnotize,” the first single off Ready to Die. Then at the end of that month, after his death, the “Hypnotize” video came out. It was so fucking epic, filmed with speedboats and helicopters in Miami Bay. The man had made it, was doing it over the top, just crushing it. Before it all got snatched away. They said he never got to watch the whole video. He definitely never got to see the whole album released. But if you watch that video close, you can see it. He’s wearing the motherfucking Questions.
I’d gotten so far, and the further I got, I kept getting slapped, but harder and harder. Me being stubborn, I dug deeper. You don’t like my style? Gonna do it more—let the joints sag further. You don’t like my friends? I’m gonna hold those dudes closer. You think my family should be in jail? I’m gonna be there in court for them. You don’t like my partying? I’m gonna stay out later, party harder. It ain’t a strategy for life I recommend. It’s just how I did it. That loyalty, stubbornness, got me in trouble, got me criticized, and sometimes brought pain, but it wasn’t stopping me from reaching for greatness and making my mark in the NBA.
I was who I was then. The man who was the MVP four years later. The man in that press conference a year after that. The man writing this book. That was me.
At the Cleveland arena, they announced each member of that anniversary team, starting with the forwards and centers, followed by the guards. First up among the guards was me. Like in a pregame intro, they said it, “Eleven-time All-Star and four-time scoring champ, AAAAAAA-llen IIIIIIIIII-verson!” Add to those accomplishments a league MVP and Eastern Conference Championship and it’s a hell of a résumé, but it felt like I could hardly remember it, the speed it went by.
After game four, the series tied at two games apiece, I got the greatest honor of my life. I was named Most Valuable Player. I led the league in points, in steals, in minutes per game. Even now I stop and reflect: In that moment I was the greatest player on the planet, No. 1. Shit, man, my mom said she believed in me, and here I was. At just under six feet, and still barely 165 pounds, I was the smallest MVP in league history. Whatever my physical dimensions, my heart couldn’t be measured.
Always human. Always misunderstood. Always myself. I’ve made mistakes. Plenty of them. I didn’t care for practice. It didn’t mean enough, no stakes and boring. But I played every game like it was my last. Because I think I always thought it might be. So what’s the situation with practice? That’s all the answer I have.
So by now, you get it. The practice press conference wasn’t really about practice. That was my whole point. What I was trying to say was that it just seemed wrong to focus on practice then and there. What about the games? What about my friends and family? What about me, the human being? That’s what I was trying to say. And to explain my reaction, I wanted to tell you about the person I was, the person I am, and how I got here.
From the 50th Anniversary Team to the 75th. From roaming the streets of Newport News and Hampton to entering the Hall of Fame. From selling drugs to selling sneakers. From bunching up a suit in my jail cell to wearing that blazer there on center court. From alone in a jail cell to under the arm of Coach Thompson. From banned tattoos to ink poking out of just about every shirt collar and cuff. From bringing my friends and family with me out the shit to losing my best friend once we’d made it. From my mom dragging me to my first basketball tryout to being named the MVP. From booed to embraced.
Iverson’s memoir is both revelation and reclamation. The title itself—Misunderstood—is a declaration of intent: to set the record straight, to give context to the controversies, and to reveal the person behind the myth. Through vivid reflection, he shows how his individuality, often criticized, became a symbol of cultural change in sports and beyond.
This is not a victory lap; it’s a reckoning. Iverson confronts the costs of fame, the pain of public judgment, and the lessons learned from hardship. Yet what stands out most is his resilience—the spirit of someone who never stopped being himself, even when the world didn’t understand.
Misunderstood is more than a sports memoir; it’s a study of identity, race, class, and defiance in modern America. Powerful, emotional, and deeply human, it reminds us that legends aren’t just made on the court—they’re forged in the struggle to stay true to who you are.
Rating: 5/5
So in that first press conference after ending our season, after losing, not one question about those games. They wanted to talk about practice?
So I said what I said in that press conference. And that’s where it all came from. And everything in my life has been like that. People wanting something from me that I couldn’t understand. And they misunderstood me—that where I came from, what I’d been through, made me different. I mean, to me, practice wasn’t that important. Not compared to the games. Not compared to my friends and family.
I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we’re in here talking about practice. I mean, listen, we’re talking about practice. Not a game! Not a game! Not a game! We’re talking about practice. Not a game. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game like it’s my last. Not the game. We’re talking about practice, man. I mean, how silly is that?
One uncle was called Bubba and the other was Chuck. Well, they got to arguing that I should get one of their nicknames as my own, and my mom said, “You know what, you both can be right. Bubbachuck.” And so that’s what it was from that day forward. Everybody called me Bubbachuck, sometimes just “Bubba,” or mostly just “Chuck.” You watch my games from when I was a kid, even the announcers called me that. And to this day, among my family, my friends, and when I go home, it’s “Bubbachuck.”
Stevie and Greg both played football at Bethel. They were good but weren’t pros or anything. I liked watching them. Then as soon as I could run, I demanded to play with them. They could see my quickness. Just give me the football. I’d take it and just go, freedom in running wild among the older dudes—we’d see if any of them could knock me down. Of course they could. They would tackle my ass again and again. Didn’t matter how many times. I just said, “Let’s do it again,” because I wanted to do it until they couldn’t fuck with me anymore, until I beat their asses. That was something I always did: just kept going until I could win.
But man, it wasn’t much later that kids around me, twelve and thirteen years old, started sniffing powder. I remember these dudes, they were like, “Hit this, Chuck, hit this.” I was like, “Nah.” “Man you a little bitch, Chuck.” I was terrified because I always heard that drugs were bad, to the point that you could die from it. If you did drugs, you couldn’t play in the NBA or NFL. So I didn’t mess with any drugs.
One of the biggest lessons he taught at the beginning was “If it’s between you and me, it’s me.” What that meant was if it’s you and me and the end zone, I’m making that tackle. Or if I have the ball, I’m scoring that touchdown. It was just knowing that out of all these people in the world who are talented, out of all of these people who are gifted, all these people fighting for the same shit, why can’t it be me? It was about putting yourself first when it came to sports, but also in life. It was about having confidence. In the hood, there is fear. There’s hesitation. And you had a lot of kids with low self-esteem. And what it comes down to is just asking yourself, Why can’t it be me? Scoring the touchdown. Making the tackle. Shit, becoming president.
We walked onto the court. And I didn’t even have to start playing. That’s the crazy part. I saw all the dudes I knew from around the way, from playing football, and here they were in the gym. And I was just thinking to myself, why not me? So I just sat there watching. I must have watched for ten, fifteen minutes. I had to see the moves they made, the way they shot the ball. And then I was ready. It was the way I learned—visually. It’s still the way I think and learn. It was like this: Since I was little, I was an artist. I could see something and draw it, recreate it on the page. And that’s how it was with sports. I would watch, then imagine myself doing it. Then go out and do it.
All I could say to my mom was, “Thank you Mom, thank you Mom, I appreciate that.” She knew better than me. You know when your mom tells you something, and goddammit she’s right? “Eat this, it’s good!” And then, Oh shit, it’s delicious. That was me with basketball.
At the time, I loved it. I had money in my pocket. I bought what I wanted. I had the shoes. I had the clothes. It was as great as I could imagine. You have to understand, I never really had anything, and now I could get what I wanted, when I wanted.
I had a taste of money, a taste of hustling. I was trying to provide for my sister. I was taking care of my mom as much as I could. No one was getting me out of there. But they started saying it more and more.
It was over right there. We won 27–0. We were state champions. When the horn sounded, our crowd flooded the field. The song “Celebration” played on the speakers. Everyone was there. The TV crew came to interview me. I’ll never forget it. Mo and many others will tell you that in that moment of victory, of conquering everybody, I actually arrived at the beginning of the end.
The interviewer asked me on the broadcast, since I was only a junior, what was next for me? I said exactly what was on my mind. It was something I think a lot of people didn’t care too much for. And maybe it was why some people later wanted to put me in my place. I don’t know. So to answer the question, what I said was “Gonna go get one in basketball now, that’s all.” I think they were expecting me to say something about football. Sad part is, I would never play football again. Not one game.
She’s part of the reason I don’t want anyone to think, as tough as some things were, that I had it bad. Man, I had all kinds of fun. I had family. I had my girl. And I was a star.
And I just said to him, “Think of the ball going through the uprights.” That’s what I always did—visualized what I would do with my body to manipulate the world around me, then do it. Didn’t matter if it was football or basketball or drawing. And so that’s what I said for him to do. Visualize kicking the ball through the uprights.
I did not ease in. Nope. Three days after winning the state football championship, I did this: scored 37 points, got 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 7 steals, and 2 blocks. And we beat Tawanna’s school, Kecoughtan, in their own gym, 73–68.
Then, I spoke to Nana. Since I had been reading the Bible, I said to her, “If I wasn’t guilty, why would God do this to me?” I was almost crying. It wasn’t just my future I was sweating. She had her health issues, and I didn’t want this to be her last memory of me. She said something I’ll never forget: “Never question God.” She had a way of setting me straight. So all of this was telling me I had to be patient.
A few nights later, we made our first trip to Hartford to face off against the University of Connecticut, ranked No. 2 in the nation. They had a dude who I had never played against growing up, but who obviously became one of the greats, Ray Allen. A sophomore, he was making a name for himself that season. And it wasn’t no one-man show. They had Kevin Ollie, Doron Sheffer, and Donny Marshall. But Ray was their man, and at that moment me and him were neck-and-neck for Big East scoring lead.
In Philly, the dudes in the crowd wore prison suits. In DC, our crowd wore presidential suits. But during warm-ups, the crowd’s murmurs were not for me. A bunch of Secret Service was there and just before tip-off, in walked Bill Clinton. Georgetown was his alma mater. I tried to keep it serious, put my game face on. But goddammit, I was going crazy. It always mattered to me who was watching. So on this night, it was the president of the United States—I had to bring it.
Man look—I was in jail a little over a year earlier, shooting baskets in the prison yard. Now this. At the time, I never gave myself even a second to reflect, the whiplash of being shackled one moment… and now free, now fucking grabbing my future by the throat. And with the president here to see it. With hindsight, I can’t believe I did it. Back then, I was like, Of course this is my path.
In Tallahassee, I got a call in my hotel room. It was Coach Thompson. He wanted to speak with me. I walked to his room wondering what was up, what kind of trouble I was in. He looked all serious as I entered. “I’m going to tell you something that I haven’t told you all year.” It sounded so terrible. Like the man was about to tell me I couldn’t play in the game or some shit. “I’m proud of you,” he said. “Regardless of what happens at the end of this year, I want you to know that.”
In my head, I was like, Okay, and…? But that was it. He didn’t even dismiss me with a couple of “motherfuckers” at the end. Not knowing what to do, I nodded and just shook his hand. Walked right on out of there. He said later, “My kids are more comfortable with me when I’m fussing at them and cursing at them or being boisterous. I guess he didn’t know what the hell’s going on with Coach—he’s being nice to me.” Looking back now with thirty years of hindsight, I can see what he was doing. When I say Coach Thompson saved my life, it wasn’t just a scholarship, a chance at basketball. It was the faith he put in me and the confidence that his faith, his belief, gave me
Coach Thompson, always managing the audience, said to me, “It is not a time to gloat.” Well, thirty years later, writing my motherfucking book, maybe I can now gloat. Just Do It? You didn’t do shit but railroad a kid. That’s what goes through my head now. I felt it then probably, but more than anything, that shit was done. I was glad to win. I was glad my family was happy. I was glad it was over, like over over over. And I wasn’t looking back.
I got home that summer, confident about my game and my future. That August I would travel to Japan for my first overseas trip. That was because Me, Othella, and Jerome all had been selected to represent the United States in the World University Games, along with guys like Tim Duncan, Ray Allen, and Kerry Kittles. I knew then that I would play at Georgetown at least one more year, but I also knew eventually I would get paid
That set up the NIT semifinal just before Thanksgiving against Georgia Tech at Madison Square Garden, which hosted the semifinal and the final. It was just what I wanted, and what everyone wanted because Georgia Tech had the most hyped freshman of the new season, making his return to New York—Stephon Marbury.
What I learned was that the crossover is a person being scared of your first step. That’s what makes it so vicious, so deadly. So I would look into the defender’s eyes, could tell by the way his feet moved if he was scared. I might fake him one time with a little right to left or left to right, and then I do the real one and most of the time they go for it. What I added, what became my signature, was I would bring the ball high and away from my body, with a little cradle in my hand, where I could almost pause it, watch the defender, before deciding. Cross him over or use that first step and blow by.
I said to her, “Dream, baby, why you going to wear a sweat suit to the Hall of Fame?” She was just like, “It’s what I like to wear. They have my name on them.”
My heart nearly broke, man. Hearing her proud of that name. Hearing her dead-set on being herself no matter the occasion. She’s my legacy. All my kids are. And really, all the dudes who are out there playing in the NBA, free to be themselves. They are my legacy, too. Because when I think back to the beginning of my NBA career, especially that first year, man, my success, my survival, it was all just as much about me staying true to myself as it was about what I did on the court. Because damn, didn’t a lot of people express a lot of hate each and every step of the way. But I don’t want you to think I’m some perfect, laid-back father. We still made Dream wear a dress! I was only going to be inducted to the Hall of Fame once.
If I was the first pick here is what I was going to get: three years and about $9 million. If I was the fourth pick, it would be three years and $6.7 million. So a few million was in the balance. It really wasn’t the money though. That’s because even before I got picked, I got paid. About a week before the draft even happened, Falk negotiated and I signed my first sneaker deal—$50 million for ten years. No matter what happened next, I was getting out of the hood. And I was bringing everyone with me.
Even then I didn’t know know. Finally David Stern, the NBA commissioner—who later had all kinds of problems with me—walked on up to the podium. “With the first pick in the draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select… Allen Iverson from Georgetown University.”
I picked up my little baby off my lap and kissed her head. I handed her to my mother and kissed her. I was so elated, I just smiled. I hugged all my family members there. Cheers in the crowd. I had to go shake the commissioner’s hand next but first I left our table and went over to the side. Waiting for me were Ra, Marlon, and Arnie. I hugged those dudes. Then I turned back around to go on the stage. I kind of put my game face on, like how I felt I was supposed to be. But when I got on the stage, seeing the commissioner, putting on my Sixers hat, I just had to smile like a little kid. I had made it.
Some hated that Hampton was celebrating its first-ever number one pick in the draft. One lady held a sign that said, “Millions do not a hero make. Morals do.” As the mayor put it, “
The second game was different. We were playing the Bulls in Chicago. Before the game even started, their crowd went crazy because those dudes got their rings. The year before, the Bulls won 72 games and the championship. MJ had come back from baseball when I was a freshman at Georgetown. Since then he had won another championship. It was their home opener, and here he was in front of me getting the hardware.
I was just like, Nah man, I ain’t doing that. I don’t need to do that. I had my friends and family there. I wasn’t going to be someone else around them, that’s for damn sure. I was going to be me, dress the way I wanted, act the way I wanted. Something I’ve always believed is that since everybody else is taken up, the only option is for me to be me. And Coach Davis understood—my style was my choice.
He said, “Would you please clarify how you feel about the fifty greatest players here today?” I told you, I couldn’t shake it. I respected the hell out of them. Of course I did. Yet here I was just having won the game, distributed the ball first and foremost, earned the MVP, and the questions remained the same. I said how I felt: “Without those players there would be no Allen Iverson. Those guys paved the way for me.”
Right before he died, they released “Hypnotize,” the first single off Ready to Die. Then at the end of that month, after his death, the “Hypnotize” video came out. It was so fucking epic, filmed with speedboats and helicopters in Miami Bay. The man had made it, was doing it over the top, just crushing it. Before it all got snatched away. They said he never got to watch the whole video. He definitely never got to see the whole album released. But if you watch that video close, you can see it. He’s wearing the motherfucking Questions.
I’d gotten so far, and the further I got, I kept getting slapped, but harder and harder. Me being stubborn, I dug deeper. You don’t like my style? Gonna do it more—let the joints sag further. You don’t like my friends? I’m gonna hold those dudes closer. You think my family should be in jail? I’m gonna be there in court for them. You don’t like my partying? I’m gonna stay out later, party harder. It ain’t a strategy for life I recommend. It’s just how I did it. That loyalty, stubbornness, got me in trouble, got me criticized, and sometimes brought pain, but it wasn’t stopping me from reaching for greatness and making my mark in the NBA.
I was who I was then. The man who was the MVP four years later. The man in that press conference a year after that. The man writing this book. That was me.
At the Cleveland arena, they announced each member of that anniversary team, starting with the forwards and centers, followed by the guards. First up among the guards was me. Like in a pregame intro, they said it, “Eleven-time All-Star and four-time scoring champ, AAAAAAA-llen IIIIIIIIII-verson!” Add to those accomplishments a league MVP and Eastern Conference Championship and it’s a hell of a résumé, but it felt like I could hardly remember it, the speed it went by.
After game four, the series tied at two games apiece, I got the greatest honor of my life. I was named Most Valuable Player. I led the league in points, in steals, in minutes per game. Even now I stop and reflect: In that moment I was the greatest player on the planet, No. 1. Shit, man, my mom said she believed in me, and here I was. At just under six feet, and still barely 165 pounds, I was the smallest MVP in league history. Whatever my physical dimensions, my heart couldn’t be measured.
Always human. Always misunderstood. Always myself. I’ve made mistakes. Plenty of them. I didn’t care for practice. It didn’t mean enough, no stakes and boring. But I played every game like it was my last. Because I think I always thought it might be. So what’s the situation with practice? That’s all the answer I have.
So by now, you get it. The practice press conference wasn’t really about practice. That was my whole point. What I was trying to say was that it just seemed wrong to focus on practice then and there. What about the games? What about my friends and family? What about me, the human being? That’s what I was trying to say. And to explain my reaction, I wanted to tell you about the person I was, the person I am, and how I got here.
From the 50th Anniversary Team to the 75th. From roaming the streets of Newport News and Hampton to entering the Hall of Fame. From selling drugs to selling sneakers. From bunching up a suit in my jail cell to wearing that blazer there on center court. From alone in a jail cell to under the arm of Coach Thompson. From banned tattoos to ink poking out of just about every shirt collar and cuff. From bringing my friends and family with me out the shit to losing my best friend once we’d made it. From my mom dragging me to my first basketball tryout to being named the MVP. From booed to embraced.
October 29, 2025
As far as Autobiography’s go, this should be included as one of the top picks of this year. I loved this raw and unfiltered storytelling from Allen Iverson and his thoughts on iconic moments in his career.
November 20, 2025
I still love him.
January 13, 2026
Great book!
One of the ones where I didn’t know his story..just know the NBA story.
One of the ones where I didn’t know his story..just know the NBA story.
December 21, 2025
AI is probably my favorite Philly athlete and I really enjoyed hearing his story through his perspective.
October 26, 2025
Are we talking about practice?
January 22, 2026
Let me be clear. I love me some Allen Iverson. When he played for the Sixers, I went to games just to cheer him on. While I loved watching Allen play on the court, it breaks my heart to say, I did not enjoy this audiobook.
Here’s why…
This memoir primarily consists of Allen Iverson detailing his sport experiences, including wins, loses, recaps, analysis, statistics, and insights as an athlete beginning from his childhood as a football player, to his years playing in the NBA. When I say this narrative is heavy on sports commentary, trust me, it’s a LOT! The recaps of his games went on and on and on. There is absolutely NO personal life, athletic life balance.
Although the audiobook is a total of 9 hours 1 minute, he didn’t get to being an NBA player until there was 1 hour 55 minutes left in the book.
I read this memoir to learn more about Allen’s personal life. I wanted to learn more about the man and his family. But he only spoke of his wife and kids briefly. Those stories were mainly used to describe a bigger picture he was sharing. I found this disappointing. The personal stories he did share were stories that I had already heard from television, reading books and magazines, or listening to radio interviews.
As for the narrator? Let me preface this by saying, I am not a fan of anyone narrating a memoir other than the author of the book. With that said, JaKwan J. Kelly’s narration didn’t do it for me. The only thing I could think of while listening to him read Allen story was, “Allen did not say it like that🤦🏽♀️.”
Here’s a couple things I did like about the book:
I enjoyed hearing about the relationship between Allen and his college coach John Thompson. Heartwarming. They loved each other and it showed.
I also appreciated Allen’s vulnerability when sharing his experience in reference to the bowling alley brawl that led to him being sentenced to prison his senior year of high school.
Overall, I am highly disappointed with this memoir. It felt like one big SportsCenter analysis of Allen’s life in sports. There was so much left out. There is so much more to learn about the man, the myth, the legend we’ve come to know as the original AI. In the end, I guess you can say I’m still searching for The Answer!
Here’s why…
This memoir primarily consists of Allen Iverson detailing his sport experiences, including wins, loses, recaps, analysis, statistics, and insights as an athlete beginning from his childhood as a football player, to his years playing in the NBA. When I say this narrative is heavy on sports commentary, trust me, it’s a LOT! The recaps of his games went on and on and on. There is absolutely NO personal life, athletic life balance.
Although the audiobook is a total of 9 hours 1 minute, he didn’t get to being an NBA player until there was 1 hour 55 minutes left in the book.
I read this memoir to learn more about Allen’s personal life. I wanted to learn more about the man and his family. But he only spoke of his wife and kids briefly. Those stories were mainly used to describe a bigger picture he was sharing. I found this disappointing. The personal stories he did share were stories that I had already heard from television, reading books and magazines, or listening to radio interviews.
As for the narrator? Let me preface this by saying, I am not a fan of anyone narrating a memoir other than the author of the book. With that said, JaKwan J. Kelly’s narration didn’t do it for me. The only thing I could think of while listening to him read Allen story was, “Allen did not say it like that🤦🏽♀️.”
Here’s a couple things I did like about the book:
I enjoyed hearing about the relationship between Allen and his college coach John Thompson. Heartwarming. They loved each other and it showed.
I also appreciated Allen’s vulnerability when sharing his experience in reference to the bowling alley brawl that led to him being sentenced to prison his senior year of high school.
Overall, I am highly disappointed with this memoir. It felt like one big SportsCenter analysis of Allen’s life in sports. There was so much left out. There is so much more to learn about the man, the myth, the legend we’ve come to know as the original AI. In the end, I guess you can say I’m still searching for The Answer!
December 9, 2025
Having grown up just outside of Philadelphia and a 76ers fan this was always going to be an automatic read for me. (The year of the finals run was my junior year of high school). So being behind the curtain now with what AI was thinking during that time frame was great. He’s right about the media coverage during that time. They were unforgiving, but we all loved him. This city loved him. He laid it all on the line every single night. A living, breathing, Rocky he embodied the fighting spirit of an underdog city. If you’re already invested in the topic, like me, this is a must read. If you didn’t experience it firsthand or you’re not an Iverson fan it probably doesn’t stand on its on its own as a great autobiography. The only thing that would have bumped this to five stars for me would have been more of his life after basketball.
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