Hall of Fame point guard Allen Iverson was extremely critical of perceptions surrounding current Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony, who signed with the Western Conference franchise team two weeks ago after close to over a year away from an active roster spot. Iverson, 44, was Anthony's teammate together with the Denver Nuggets and he denied a popular narrative stating the former third-overall pick out of Syracuse is a “defensive liability.”

Speaking to Adam Caparell on Complex Sports' “Load Management” podcast, the former MVP Iverson explained what made him “mad” about the discussions surrounding his former teammate ‘Melo.

“Everybody is a defensive liability in this league today. I'm trying to tell you, man. This shit is making me mad … I hate that comment right there.

“When I was in college — when you think back on it — if any basketball heads in here … you will know what I'm talking about without me saying it.”

Iverson referred to his own perceived limitations playing the game of basketball when he was coming out of Georgetown. The first overall pick from the fabled 1996 draft class went on to win the NBA's Rookie of the Year playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. Iverson, at 6'0″, was lambasted for weakness on defense.

Anthony has been through a similar gauntlet during his late career. He was traded by the New York Knicks in 2017 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he didn't quite work out. ‘Melo later signed with the Houston Rockets, who seemingly scapegoated him when their 2018-19 season's beginning went awry and traded Anthony, who was later waived.

Anthony's return to the NBA has been up and down, with his scoring returning preternaturally but criticism about defense not going away yet.