Allen Iverson Celebrates Six Months of Sobriety

Allen Iverson, the basketball Hall of Famer, is renowned for his electrifying talent and cultural impact, but his proudest achievement extends beyond his legendary basketball career. In a recent interview on CBS Mornings, the 11-time NBA All-Star revealed that his most outstanding achievement is being sober for six months.

“One of the best decisions I ever made in my life was to stop drinking,” Iverson told CBS’s Maurice DuBois on Tuesday. The former MVP, now six months sober, said the change has transformed his life and relationships. “Better than I did when I was doing it,” Iverson said when asked how he feels today. “When you get drunk, you’re not how you usually are. The more and more I see it on other people, the more and more it makes me happy about the decision. And the more and more I see how the people around me appreciate it, I love it.”

 

NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson was a basketball phenom in the 90s and early 2000s, matching his signature speed and athleticism on the court with his fashion choices, which put him at odds with the league’s commissioner and other players.

In his new memoir, “Misunderstood,”… pic.twitter.com/8DtYzwlPDF

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According to DuBois, Iverson’s wife, Tawanna Turner, has been exceptionally pleased with his decision. The two have had an enduring relationship for more than three decades, enduring ups and downs since they first met as teenagers. Their bond has remained strong even though they divorced in 2013. They have grown together through family and personal experiences. Iverson is promoting his memoir Misunderstood, which chronicles his journey from the misunderstood superstar to a reflective father, husband, and leader, as he reaffirms his focus on health and clarity. In addition to discussing his sobriety, Iverson also reflected on his cultural impact, which included his unapologetically fashionable style that changed the NBA’s image in the early 2000s.

After being picked first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996, Iverson became the 2001 NBA MVP and helped the Sixers reach the NBA Finals that same year. His legacy as one of Philadelphia’s most beloved athletes was strengthened by the franchise retiring his number 3 jersey in 2014. Following his playing career, which included stints with the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies, as well as a brief run in Turkey with Beşiktaş, Iverson transitioned into a leadership role as vice president of basketball at Reebok. Points or accolades do not determine the most important victories for Iverson.

“This,” he said of his sobriety, “is the best feeling I’ve had in a long time.”