NBA: Allen Iverson Is Not A Fan Of Lifting Weights Or Healthy Players Sitting Out Games

Allen Iverson will rarely, if ever, filter himself when he speaks. If you ask him a question you better be prepared for some hard, cold truth whether it’s about something serious or not. Last night when he was in Philly for his “Hall of Fame Night”, Iverson did some interviews and two funny and interesting topics came up. His answers to both shouldn’t surprise anyone.

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Iverson was being asked about his conditioning when he played because his motor was always on high and it looked like he was incapable of getting tired. He joked that now he couldn’t even run down the court once before collapsing and when he was asked about lifting weights during his career, he kept it as real as you would expect.

“That shit was too heavy,” he said, according to Philly Magazine’s Derek Bodner.

It’s both real and hilarious that Iverson would say that but he clearly never needed weights to have a hall of fame career.

Eventually while doing an interview with ESPN, he was asked how he felt about this generation of the NBA, where healthy players sometimes rest for no apparent reason. This of course has been a hot topic since last week when the Cavs traveled to Memphis but left Lebron, Kyrie and Kevin Love at home for “rest”. The fact that it’s not even Christmas yet and players were already looking for rest was a sore spot, not too mention fans feeling cheated who paid good money to see star players.

The Spurs did it for years with Gregg Popovich routinely resting Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, despite knowing it rubbed people the wrong way.

Iverson said he understands why it happens but that doesn’t mean he likes it.

“It’s different to me. I never thought anything like that would happen,” Iverson told Jalen Rose Friday night when asked about modern stars being rested when healthy. A guy like myself loved to compete night in and night out – tired, hurt, it doesn’t matter.”

He did his best to be non judgemental about it saying “To each his own. If it helps those guys and helps their team, then so be it.”

Then Jalen asked him what would’ve happened if a coach asked him to sit out even though he was healthy. That’s when Iverson made it clear he is a different type of player.

“It would’ve been a big problem. It would’ve definitely been a big problem. We would’ve definitely had it out, and hopefully I would’ve came out on top.”

And that folks is Allen Iverson through and through. Never fake, always real! Some players of this era should be taking notes.

ESPN