Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The interior of the Buckhead Theatre was plastered with photos of former All-NBA guard Allen Iverson’s face. There were photos from his playing career, Reebok endorsement days, and from the many magazine shoots he took part in. Iverson was scheduled to be in town for business on Sunday night, and fans were there to greet him.
Brave + Kind. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Iverson, a Naismith Hall of Famer and 11-time NBA All-Star, is currently on tour with his new memoir, “Misunderstood.” The book is a collaboration with lawyer and West Philadelphia native Ray Beauchamp. The tour has already made stops in New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans.
“I never won a championship, but I’m the people’s champ,” said Iverson, who is currently Reebok’s President of Basketball, after greeting the event host, rapper Tip “T.I.” Harris.
When he looked out into the crowd, Iverson had to feel like the people’s choice. Men, women, and children wore jerseys from his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, the Georgetown University Hoyas, while one man wore one from Iverson’s All-American career at Bethel High School.
Before Iverson and Harris took the stage, the music w
as blasting and the VIP section was filling up. Copies of “Misunderstood” were being sold by Black woman-owned bookstore, Brave + Kind, and people stopped by the step-and-repeat to take selfies.
On the reason why he decided to write a memoir, Iverson said he had things on his mind that he wanted to get off. His post-career life has been interesting, good, and bad, according to his words.
“I didn’t cut no corners. I’m an open book,” Iverson said.
Iverson used the word “turbulent” when describing his journey from his native Virginia to the National Basketball League to the stage he sat on in Atlanta on Sunday night.
“One of the reasons was it was more confirmation that the devil is a sucker,” Iverson said on why he decided to put the book out. “I believe in God, and I just wanted to give the world a gift from me.”
During their time on stage, Harris praised Iverson as a cultural icon on and off the court.
“On the outside looking in, we observe our favorite people go through things, but this book is a deeper look,” Harris said about “Misunderstood”.
Iverson said he hopes his story helps someone. During his career and on this current book tour, he has heard from people that his style of play has helped motivate them.
“If I can help one person in life, I did my job,” Iverson said. “This book is just a confession of me being just like everybody in this room.”
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