But nothing involving Iverson is that simple.
I've never met an athlete as complex and intriguing as Iverson. It is impossible to reflect on his greatness without considering his faults.
For all of the thrills and excitement he delivered during his decade with the 76ers, I always felt cheated by Iverson.
As electrifying as Iverson was, I never felt he maximized his potential.
There was a higher level Iverson could have reached, but he never willed himself to go there.
Iverson's legendary determination was his greatest strength and biggest weakness. His competitive nature allowed him to dominate as a David in a sport ruled by Goliaths.
Of the hundreds of highlights Iverson created, my favorites are from his rookie season.
One was when he nearly broke Michael Jordan's ankles with one of his killer crossover moves, and the other was when he slammed home the follow of a missed shot over 6-11 Marcus Camby.
I'll never forget the war he waged with Vince Carter, then with Toronto, in the 2001 Eastern Conference playoffs.
Iverson scored more than 50 points twice and Carter scored 50 once. In Game 7, Iverson showed what kind of point guard he could have been - had he wanted to - by handing out 16 assists in an 88-87 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Of course, Iverson's strong will also fueled his disdain for authority.
In a lot of ways his "I'm going to succeed doing it my way" attitude made Iverson a cultural icon, but it hindered his ability to become the best player and teammate he could have been.
Iverson's way was the only way, and you could go to hell if you thought even the slightest adjustment would make him a better player.
I remember telling former Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks when he got hired that the problem with changing direction was that the team could only go in the direction Iverson turned.
