Allen Iverson recalls ludicrous moment that got him in trouble: “When I did that bulls**t, that's when I had a problem with David Stern”
Allen Iverson, one of the best NBA players of all time, was a joy to watch in his prime. However, David Stern, the league's former commissioner, didn't get along with Iverson too well.
Beyond his ability, Iverson had a different type of swagger than any other player in NBA history. Whether it was his cornrows, gold chains, stepping over Tyronn Lue, or anything else, Iverson enjoyed popular support.
Allen Iverson was big in the hip-hop world. While hip-hop music is something that many players listened to, Iverson embraced it.
Iverson was always one to get into it with David Stern. It wasn't just a little ticky-tack argument here and there, either. Stern genuinely didn't like Allen Iverson and Iverson and the rest of the world knew that.
When Iverson released his album, he said that's when he had a problem with Stern:
"It wasn't a great relationship when I did it, that terrible rap album. When I did that bull****, that's when I had a problem with David Stern. And then, I remember going into the office and he was reading my lyrics. Kev, like, David Stern was, actually reading 40 bars off a piece of paper and me and Theo Ratliff.
"I was trying not to laugh, because I know how serious it was and the shi** I was saying. Obviously, you know, to hear David Stern rapping it, it was crazy."
Allen Iverson and David Stern
Allen Iverson dressed differently than most NBA players as well. With baggy pants, big hats, oversized shirts, chains, and tattoos, Iverson looked drippy as he walked into games.
However, there was one small problem. NBA commissioner David Stern apparently didn't like the way that Iverson was dressed. Iverson said that he was just dressing like the people he grew up with because that's what he knew, according to the New York Post:
“Back then, I was 21 years old, and I didn’t understand,” Iverson said. “I was just kind of dressing like the guys from my neighborhood that I grew up with. So, it was natural to me. And then with the tattoos, I always wanted them, but I couldn’t afford them. Once I could afford them, I went overboard. But all the tattoos mean something to me.
“With the dress code and all that, I was hurt by it. I didn’t understand it. Now, you see guys wearing whatever they want, looking the way they want, and I know this had a lot to do with me getting the dress code changed. But it’s a good feeling to see guys expressing themselves they want to."
Stern said it was a Steve Nash problem, not an Iverson one. It's tough to say that this was the case because of how Stern acted towards Iverson.