It's no secret that Allen Iverson was one of the most controversial figures in the NBA during his playing days. The diminutive 6-foot guard's larger-than-life persona was unlike any other the league had seen before he arrived and it did not come as a surprise that the Sixers icon absolutely took the NBA by storm.
As great of a basketball player Iverson was, it seemed as though he was always getting into trouble off the basketball court. As a matter of fact, a 17-year-old Allen Iverson spent four months in prison for his alleged role in a brawl inside a bowling alley. While the conviction was eventually overturned and he was later cleared of all charges, there's no denying that at that point in time, the life of a highly-touted young basketball player was on a downward spiral.
Everything changed when Iverson went to Georgetown for college. This is where the future Sixers star would meet John Thompson, the head coach of the Hoyas. It seemed as though fate put them together, as to this day, Iverson credits Thompson for being one of the most important people in his life:
“Coach Thompson saved my life,” Iverson said, via Shaun Powell of NBA.com. “My mom went up there to Georgetown and basically begged for me. He gave me an opportunity. We would always joke later. He was like, `If your mom didn’t come up here, then you wouldn’t be who you are, and I gave you a shot.’ And I’m like `C’mon coach, it had something to do with my talent, too, now. I made you look good, too.’”
Iverson and Thompson had a unique relationship. Many saw AI as the highly-talented kid who had an attitude problem. Big John Thompson, however, was able to tame the beast, so to speak. He let Iverson do his thing but also knew when to yank him back when necessary. Simply put, Thompson spoke Iverson's language.
“He never called me by my name. It was always ‘Hey m—f—.’ I’d answer the phone and he’d say, `I’m just calling to cuss you out.’”
In high school, Iverson not only excelled in basketball. He was an outstanding quarterback as well. One of the reasons why he decided to go to a Division II school such as Georgetown was because he actually wanted to play both basketball and football in college. Big John was having none of it, though:
“I remember my freshman year,” Iverson said, “in order to get to the gym, I had to walk past the football field, and I was crying. I used to try to walk by without looking. I figured I would go the long way so I wouldn’t see the field. But it was too much.
“I remember asking Coach Thompson one day if I could play. And I don’t think I could use the language he used that day. All I can tell you is that I never thought about playing football again.”
Thompson probably knew how talented Iverson was as a basketball player and how much potential he had as a future NBA superstar. He was aware of AI's incessant affinity for football, but perhaps he realized that basketball was the right path to take for Iverson. He was a troubled young man and Iverson would have likely struggled to juggle basketball and football, while also attending school and doing his best to avoid off-court/off-field distractions.
Iverson spent just two years in Georgetown before moving up to the NBA as the first overall pick of the Sixers in 1996. His time under Big John may have been short-lived, but it is clear that this man had a significant impact not only on AI's basketball career but more importantly, on his life.
Iverson then became emotional as he talked about Thompson's passing in 2020. Iverson never got to say goodbye to his former coach despite how Thompson's family called him days before Big John's passing. AI, however, holds no regrets. He says he prefers to keep fond memories of Thompson as opposed to seeing the man on his death bed:
“And then the next day I got the phone call, so I didn’t have the opportunity,” Iverson said. “I know how much God loves me and if I had went there and seen him in that capacity, it wouldn’t have done me no good mentally. It’s the same thing with my grandma. My grandma died, and me and her was like this,” Iverson said, crossing his index and middle fingers.
Simply put, Iverson would not be the man he is today — an 11-time All-Star, a former league MVP, a basketball Hall of Famer, a role model — had it not been for John Thompson. He may not have said it directly but seems that the Sixers legend feels like he owes his life to his former college coach.
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