Early Life and Education of Allen Iverson: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Allen Iverson. A timeline of key moments.

Allen Iverson, nicknamed "the Answer," is a retired American professional basketball player who played 14 seasons in the NBA. Predominantly a shooting guard and point guard, he debuted with the Philadelphia 76ers, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 1997. A celebrated player, Iverson was an 11-time NBA All-Star, winning the All-Star Game MVP twice, and the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2001. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. He is considered one of basketball's best scorers, ball handlers and one of the most influential athletes in American sports.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

June 7, 1975: Allen Iverson's Birth

On June 7, 1975, Allen Ezail Iverson was born. He later became a professional basketball player known as "The Answer."

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1979: Birth of Half-Sibling Brandy

In 1979, Allen Iverson's younger half-sibling, Brandy, was born.

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1990: Birth of Half-Sibling Ieisha

In 1990, Allen Iverson's younger half-sibling, Ieisha, was born.

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1994: Big East Rookie of the Year

In the 1994-95 season, Allen Iverson won the Big East Rookie of the Year award and was named to the All Rookie Tournament First Team while playing for Georgetown University.

1995: Continued Success at Georgetown

During his second season at Georgetown in 1995-96, Allen Iverson led the team to a Big East championship and the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament, also being named a first-team All-American and Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

1996: Declared eligibility for the NBA draft

In 1996, after two years at Georgetown University, Allen Iverson declared his eligibility for the NBA draft and was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.

August 1997: Iverson Arrested for Gun and Marijuana Possession

In August 1997, Allen Iverson was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana after being stopped for speeding, and he was later sentenced to community service after pleading no contest.

2000: Iverson Records Rap Single "40 Bars" and Faces Controversy

In 2000, Allen Iverson, under the moniker Jewelz, recorded a rap single called "40 Bars" that was alleged to have derogatory remarks about homosexuals, but he was unable to release it due to controversy and criticism.

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2002: Iverson Accused of Domestic Dispute and Threatening Men

In 2002, Allen Iverson was alleged to have thrown his wife Tawanna out of their home after a domestic dispute and threatened two men with a gun while looking for her; however, all charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence.

2003: Birth of Half-Sibling Mister

In 2003, Allen Iverson's younger half-sibling, Mister, was born.

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February 24, 2004: Iverson Told Not to Return to Bally's Atlantic City Casino

On February 24, 2004, Allen Iverson urinated in a trash can at Bally's Atlantic City casino, resulting in casino management asking him not to return.

December 9, 2005: Iverson Involved in Dispute at Trump Taj Mahal Casino

On December 9, 2005, Allen Iverson visited the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City and was overpaid $10,000 in chips by a dealer after winning a hand at a poker table. He refused to return the money when the dealer realized the mistake, leading to a heated argument.

2005: Iverson's Bodyguard Accused of Assault in Nightclub Incident

In 2005, Allen Iverson's bodyguard, Jason Kane, was accused of assaulting a man at a Washington, D.C. nightclub, leading to a lawsuit against Iverson for the injuries caused to the victim.

2007: Jury Awards Damages in Lawsuit Against Iverson

In 2007, a jury awarded Marlin Godfrey $260,000 in damages in a lawsuit against Allen Iverson for injuries caused by Iverson's bodyguard in a 2005 nightclub incident.

March 2009: Appeals Court Upholds Verdict in Lawsuit Against Iverson

In March 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the verdict in the lawsuit against Allen Iverson, stemming from a 2005 incident where his bodyguard assaulted a man at a nightclub.

2009: Iverson Involved in Bar Fight in Detroit

In 2009, there was a bar fight in Detroit in which Iverson's security guard assaulted a man.

February 22, 2010: Iverson Left 76ers Indefinitely

On February 22, 2010, Allen Iverson left the 76ers indefinitely to attend to his daughter's health issues. He revealed years later that she had Kawasaki Disease.

March 2, 2010: Tawanna Iverson Files for Divorce

On March 2, 2010, Allen Iverson's wife, Tawanna Iverson, filed for divorce, seeking custody of their children, child support, and alimony payments.

August 2011: Iverson Sued for $2.5 Million in Damages

In August 2011, Allen Iverson was sued by an Ohio man for $2.5 million in damages, claiming that Iverson's security guard assaulted him in a 2009 bar fight in Detroit; however, the case was later dismissed by a federal judge due to lack of evidence.

2013: Iverson and Wife Reconcile After Divorce

In 2013, Allen Iverson and his wife reportedly got back together less than a month after their divorce was finalized.

2013: Iverson Accused of Kidnapping Children

In 2013, Allen Iverson was accused of kidnapping his children and refusing to return them to their mother, but he denied the claim, and his ex-wife later recanted.

May 14, 2015: Iverson Denies Financial Struggles on CBS This Morning

On May 14, 2015, Allen Iverson appeared on CBS This Morning to promote a Showtime documentary about his life and addressed rumors of financial difficulties, which he denied, calling them a myth.

August 14, 2015: Post Malone Releases "White Iverson"

On August 14, 2015, Post Malone released the song "White Iverson", which became a hit, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and accumulating over a billion streams on Spotify and a billion views on YouTube.

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2017: BIG3 League Announcement and Iverson's Role

In 2017, the BIG3, a 3-on-3 professional basketball league, was announced, with Allen Iverson designated to be both a player and coach for the team 3's Company.

2021: Iverson Partners with Al Harrington for Cannabis Product Line

In 2021, Allen Iverson and Al Harrington announced a business partnership to launch a cannabis product line called "The Iverson Collection", with Iverson also contributing to business initiatives for Harrington's company, Viola Brands.

2024: 76ers Unveil Statue of Iverson

In 2024, the 76ers unveiled a statue of Allen Iverson outside their practice facility, and the city of Newport News named a street "Allen Iverson Way," while the governor of Virginia declared March 5 to be Allen Iverson Day.

2025: Iverson Appears in Buffalo Bills' Schedule Release Video

In 2025, Allen Iverson made an appearance in the Buffalo Bills' schedule release video as part of a comedic skit where Josh Allen suggests using "AI" (misinterpreted as Iverson instead of artificial intelligence) to create the video.