Philadelphia 76ers: 15 greatest NBA playoff moments

3. A.I.’s ‘practice’ rant

“We talkin’ bout practice. Not a game. Not a game. Not a game. We talkin’ bout practice.”

Few lines in the history of basketball are more quotable than Allen Iverson’s gem from 2002. On May 7, after the Sixers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, Iverson sat in front of reporters and gave an emotional interview. One that included a not-to-subtle rant about practice.

When questioned about his dedication to practice, Iverson pointed to larger problems. He was the franchise centerpiece for a team that, just one year prior, made it to the NBA Finals. Why were people talking about practice?

Many viewed it as a sign of Iverson’s perceived immaturity, the antics that led some to disavow his presence in Philadelphia. In truth, it was much larger than that — something most media soundbites fail to portray.

Iverson was dealing with the loss of a close friend during the 2001-02 season. That made the aches and pains of an 82-game campaign even tougher. Later in the same media session, Iverson got far more intimate while opening up about his struggles.

"“I’m upset for one reason: ‘Cause I’m in here. I lost. I lost my best friend. I lost him, and I lost this year. Everything is just going downhill for me, as far as just that. You know, as far as my life. And then I’m dealing with this. … My best friend is dead. Dead. And we lost. And this is what I have to go through for the rest of the summer until the season is all over again.” — ESPN"

It’s always important to place things in context, especially when people begin to call someone’s character and motivation to win into question. Athletes are still humans, a well-worn cliché that gets forgotten far too often when discussing the all-time greats.

Iverson was discussing his all-out mentality and in-game performances, not simply discrediting the importance of practice. And there were still things beyond basketball factoring into his comments. Don’t overlook those aspects, especially if the goal is to shade Iverson’s personality or commitment.