Allen Iverson transcended race, celebrity, and pop culture and emerged from a troubled past to become one of the most successful and highly compensated athletes in the world. Babb examines what drove his successes and failures, getting behind the familiar, sanitized, and heroic version of Iverson-- the hard-charging, hard-partying athlete who played every game as if it were his last. He brings to life a private, loyal, and often generous Allen Iverson who rarely made the headlines, revealing the back story behind some of Iverson's most memorable moments, and delves deep to discover where Iverson's demons lurked. Over time, Iverson himself came to believe his own hype: that he lived in a world where celebrity is eternal and riches are everlasting.

Part sports star, part antihero, part hip-hop icon, Allen Iverson has managed to cross over into the mainstream of American culture -- without compromise. Defiantly tattooed, with his hair in cornrows, the six-foot Philadelphia 76ers point guard is one of the most recognizable and controversial stars of the sports world. His meteoric rise from a troubled childhood in the ghetto to NBA superstardom has been marked by five straight playoff appearances, including a finals berth in 2001 and an MVP award. From his rap sheet to his rap album, fans and journalists alike hound his every move. But never before has a biographer presented a full portrait of this complicated and intensely private star -- a man whose loyalty to his family, the streets, and his friends trumps any other concern. Filled with exclusive interview material and unprecedented access to many of Iverson's inner circle, Only the Strong Survive is the first in-depth look at the truth behind this newly minted legend.

HE HAS TAKEN HIS GAME -- AND THE GAME -- TO A NEW LEVEL He grew up in Virginia with nothing but his talent and his heart. But he had The Plan: his never-say-die dream to become an NBA superstar. So he began his journey down a road full of obstacles. But the world underestimated Allen Iverson.... Fear No One From his first days playing college hoops...to his turbulent early years in the pros...to his leading the Philadelphia 76ers to the 2001 NBA Finals and being named league MVP, here is the real story of controversial superstar Allen Iverson. Acclaimed sports journalist John Smallwood -- who has covered Iverson extensively -- shows readers the Iverson they never knew: the boy, the man, the rapper, the player, the role model, and the icon. Get to know ALLEN IVERSON...the man behind the legend.

Allen Iverson, star shooting guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, is one of the most electrifying players in the NBA. With his lightning quickness and acrobatic ball-handling skills, Iverson is virtually unstoppable on the court. Even more important than his skills on the court, however, are Allen Iverson's will and determination. These traits have enabled him to overcome tremendous adversity and become one of the greatest basketball players in the world today. Despite growing up poor, Iverson never gave up on his dream of playing pro basketball and giving his family a chance at a better life. In 1996, he was the first player picked overall in the NBA Draft. During his first six seasons, Iverson led the NBA in scoring two times and was voted the top player in the league's All-Star Game in 2001. Without a doubt, Allen Iverson is living proof that perseverance and hard work are the key components to any success story. Book jacket.

Ever since Allen Iverson was drafted into the NBA in 1996, people have sought access to native of Newport, VA. From friendly media to tabloids, legendary photographers to unknown freelancers, family members to fame mongers, people have wanted to be in Iverson's presence, to experience a day with him. Few, if even that many, ever spent real time with him while he was in the NBA. Gary Land did, though. Land, a photographer from Virginia Beach, VA, first shot Allen while working for Reebok. Almost immediately, the two young and hard-working men hit it off. Over the course of the next decade, Land would become Iverson's de facto personal photographer and a member of the superstar's inner circle. With the rare privilege of Iverson's trust, Land had the fortune of exclusively capturing iconic images, ranging from commercial sets to candid and intimate family moments. Many of these Land/Iverson photos have been seen, and even more have not. Now, with Iverson's upcoming induction to the Hall of Fame nearing. Land has opened the vault.

Learn the Incredible Story of Basketball Superstar Allen Iverson!Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device!In Allen Iverson: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Shooting Guards, you'll read about the inspirational story of basketball's premier shooting guard, Allen Iverson. Allen Iverson redefined the shooting guard position role in the late 1990s and entering in the 2000s. In an age filled with greats like Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Reggie Miller, and Tim Duncan, Iverson played in one of the most exciting eras of modern basketball. While the Philadelphia 76ers failed to win a ring during Iverson's tenure, they played some of the most incredible playoff series in NBA history and made it to the NBA Finals in 2000-2001 before ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Lakers. While he may have been controversial in his time playing the game due to what some perceived as an attitude, Allen Iverson always played the game his way, from the very first day he stepped into the NBA until the very last time he stepped off. Allen Iverson remains highly respected by guards all around the league due to the way he redefined the shooting guard position and what was possible for a shooting guard. He was and remains to this day one of the most pure shooting guards to play the game.Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Early Life and Childhood College Years at Georgetown AI's NBA Career Iverson's Personal Life Allen Iverson's Impact on Basketball and Beyond Iverson's Legacy An excerpt from the book:To discuss Allen Iverson is to discuss the importance of narratives in basketball. No NBA player's legacy has been so starkly divided between those who hail Iverson and those who disdain him.On one side, Allen Iverson was a fearsome, relentless warrior. Despite subpar supporting casts throughout his career, he fought and bled for victory every single game. He had an unparalleled will to win, and inspired fanatical loyalty in his teammates. In one of the greatest performances in NBA history, he stole Game 1 of the NBA Finals against one of the greatest NBA teams ever, the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers. It was Los Angeles's only defeat on their road to the 2001 championship, and the victory epitomized Iverson's heart and will. He won a MVP award in 2001, averaged 30 points per game year in and year out, and is without a doubt the greatest little man in NBA history. On the other side, Allen Iverson was a selfish and arrogant team-killer. The subpar supporting casts were in fact a perfect fit for his talents. Iverson's will only showed when he could dominate the ball as much as he liked, and he promptly threw temper tantrums otherwise. That 2001 MVP should have gone to eventual Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal, and while that Game 1 performance was impressive, the reality is that the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers squad would have never made it to the NBA Finals if they had not played in a miserable Eastern Conference. He scored many points, but with his flaws and temperament, he was utterly incapable of playing on a championship team.Tags: allen iverson, philadelphia 76ers, eric snow, michael carter-williams, nerlens noel, kobe bryant, tracy mcgrady, carmelo anthony, andre iguodala, derrick rose, steve nash, basketball crossover, nba greats, AI3

Uncover the true story behind the Netflix documentary Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul. “The book the NBA doesn’t want you to read.” —Deadspin.com Tim Donaghy loved basketball. In many ways, his zest for the game came from his father, who officiated high school and college games for over 30 years. After graduating from Villanova, Donaghy was unsatisfied with his career until he followed his heart and became a basketball referee, first in the CBA and then the NBA, where he officiated for 13 seasons: 772 regular-season games and 20 playoff games. He loved his job, his family, his life. He felt like he had everything. And then, suddenly, he had nothing. He succumbed to a gambling addiction and to intimidation from well-connected criminals—and began using inside information to win bets for them. Following an FBI investigation, Donaghy pled guilty to two federal charges, and on August 15, 2007, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison. He was released on November 4, 2009, after serving his sentence. This is his story, which provides a stunningly candid admission of his mistakes, as well as his insider’s account of the world of professional basketball. With a foreword by Phil Scala, the FBI special agent who worked the Gambino case, Personal Foul reveals how the fast life of professional sports can tempt and trap the unwary and unwise. Donaghy has written an unforgettable page-turner, one of the most controversial sports books ever published. It will confirm your suspicions about the influence of the front offices of major league sports, while examining the corrosive power of money and fame. From the Introduction: I’m guilty. For 13 years I was a referee in the National Basketball Association, living a glamorous life on and off the court, rubbing elbows with superstar players and celebrity A-listers. I suppose many would say that I had it all—a great job, money, a wonderful family—but it was all an illusion. You see, during my last four years in the NBA, I led a secret life that would ultimately cost me everything: my integrity, my reputation, my career, my livelihood, my marriage, my family, and my freedom.