NBA players are often exposed to a level of wealth when they make the league that most people can only dream of. But a lot of them come from very humble backgrounds; even the greatest stars like LeBron James have grown up without a lot of money at their disposal. And many don’t forget their roots when they do make it, especially someone like Allen Iverson.
AI brought his past and his style to the league with him when he became a star, often getting criticism for it. But he was always unapologetically himself, something that has made him a hero and a greater influence on culture than a lot of other players. And while Iverson became known for his style and the shoes he wore, the first good pair he owned have a heartwarming story behind them, one he shared with Complex.
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“My favorite was when I was young, when I was going to the national tournament, 13 and under, AAU. I remember my mom got me the Revolutions, the Nike Revolutions. I was wearing, like, a size 7, and they only had an 8.5. I still wore them, that’s how bad I wanted them. My foot just moved around a whole bunch in them. I remember it vividly because our lights got turned off for her getting them for me. So shoutout to big mama.”
Iverson would go on to earn massive deals and salaries in the NBA, but it provides a great perspective to think about the fact that his first pair of sneakers came at the cost of electricity for his family. That he was able to come out of those circumstances and become the superstar he became is what makes AI one of the biggest legends in the history of the NBA.
