Remembering AI - 5 Reasons why Allen Iverson is immortal

#3 The 'Practice' rant

Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson addresses reporters

We sitting in here -- I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we in here talking about practice. I mean, listen: We talking about practice. Not a game. Not a game. Not a game. We talking about practice. Not a game. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game like it's my last. Not the game. We talking about practice, man.

Perhaps the most memorable press conference by an NBA player of all time was one involving AI berating reporters for repeatedly asking him about missed and botched practices. Iverson was going through tough times, on both a personal level as well as from a player's standpoint.

The Sixers had been knocked out in the first round of playoffs by a young Boston Celtics team. Iverson and Larry Brown were unable to see eye-to-eye, as both had different visions of how the team should function and what role the former would play in the latter's schemes. Iverson was also reeling from the loss of his close friend Rashaan Langford 7 months earlier, and the murder trial for his case was ongoing during the time of this press conference.

If there's any incident that displays how real AI has always kept it, this press conference is it.