Iverson, 76ers exchange barbs over trade

    By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer
    December 20, 2006

    PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson is having one last fight with the Philadelphia 76ers as he leaves town.

    Now that Iverson is going to Denver, the former MVP is saying he never wanted to leave Philadelphia -- not exactly.

    Iverson denied on Wednesday night that he ever asked the Philadelphia 76ers for a trade, even though team president Billy King and chairman Ed Snider both repeatedly said the request was made. Iverson was traded to Denver for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round picks. The Nuggets also get Ivan McFarlin.

    ESPN.com first reported on Iverson's latest spat with his now-former team.

    "I didn't actually go ahead and ask for a trade," Iverson said in a statement to The Associated Press. "I went in and expressed my displeasure with the style of basketball that we were playing. We weren't playing winning basketball. I said that if we are going to continue to play this style, and we were going to continue to lose, then I didn't want to be a part of it.

    "After I spoke to the team about it, I told my teammates that I enjoyed playing with them, and that I loved them, but that if the team wasn't willing to switch things up and make changes, I didn't want to be a part of it."

    Iverson's last game with Philadelphia was Dec. 6 in Chicago.

    The Sixers' 101-93 loss to Indiana on Wednesday night was their 12th straight. The Sixers are on their longest losing streak since they dropped 13 straight from Dec. 28, 1996, to Jan. 20, 1997.

    Snider, who had been adamant that Iverson was banished from the team on Dec. 8 because of a trade request, backed off a bit at halftime on Wednesday.

    "Billy King told me he asked to be traded," Snider said. "Now, technically, I don't know that he asked, but my understanding is he had his agent call Billy King and said he wanted to be traded."

    Iverson, a four-time scoring champion, soured on his relationship with coach Maurice Cheeks and management realized it was time for a change.

    "There's going to be some times where things don't go the way it's planned, but I've always marveled at his talents and always will because he's a phenomenal player," Cheeks said.

    "It's not like we had this quarrel or this big fight or anything like that. Obviously, things happen during the course of the season, and hopefully things will turn out the best for him and turn out the best for us."

    Iverson was inactive for his final six games in Philadelphia and he will probably make his Denver debut Friday night at home against Sacramento. The Nuggets postponed their game Wednesday night against Phoenix because of a snowstorm.

    "I don't have anything bad to say about Mo or the organization," Iverson said. "They gave me the best opportunity I could hope for by sending me to Denver. They showed me a lot of loyalty in putting me in this situation, so I'm grateful to them and wish them well. The bottom line is, it was time for a change. Both the 76ers and myself need to move forward."

    Updated on Wednesday, Dec 20, 2006 11:19 pm EST