On Friday, the Philadelphia 76ers unveiled a statue in honor of NBA legend Allen Iverson. The statue was criticized for being too small, leading to a social media frenzy. Despite the backlash, many users failed to realize that Iverson’s statue was created in the standard size for the 76ers’ Legends Walk. Iverson is the 10th 76ers great to receive a statue, joining other basketball icons like Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain, and Julius Erving. The size of Iverson’s statue was consistent with the other sculptures in the collection.
The timing of Iverson’s statue unveiling coincided with the 10th anniversary of his No. 3 being retired by the franchise. This served as a reminder of Iverson’s impressive achievements, including winning NBA Rookie of the Year in 1997 and being named MVP in 2001. Standing at 6-feet tall, Iverson was often one of the smallest players on the court but was known for his prolific scoring and dominant play. Despite this, the reveal of his statue did not receive universal acclaim, with some media personalities and former NBA players expressing disappointment in the size of the sculpture.
Responses to Iverson’s statue ranged from disappointment to humor. Some criticized the 76ers for not giving Iverson the respect he deserves with the small statue, while others poked fun at the situation. Notably, the statue was created by sculptor Chad Fisher, a Philadelphia native who also created the other sculptures on the Legends Walk. The 76ers’ statement announcing the statue referred to Iverson as “one of the greatest 76ers to ever live and one of the most iconic players in the history of the NBA.”
Despite the controversy surrounding the statue, Iverson will be honored on Sunday ahead of the 76ers’ game against the Brooklyn Nets. The unveiling of Iverson’s statue led to a discussion about his legacy, impact on the game of basketball, and his place among the greats in Philadelphia sports history. Ultimately, the unveiling of the statue served as a celebration of Iverson’s contributions to the 76ers and the NBA as a whole, cementing his status as a basketball legend.
