Allen Iverson announced his retirement on Wednesday, and although it may be only temporary, now is a good time to reflect on the man’s career and status as a cultural icon.  Because make no mistake, the man was an icon.  It goes without saying that Iverson, despite his weighing only about 165 lbs, is one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the league.  The guy played his ass off every night and no matter how many times he was smashed and crushed and thrown to the floor, he got back up ready to attack the basket once again.  He was the anti-Vince Carter.

What I like most about Iverson, though, is that he never changed the guy he was coming into the league.  Iverson stayed true to the guys he grew up with and in the face of pressure from David Stern and the rest of the whitest people in the world, he lived his life the way he wanted to.  That’s why he was a cultural icon; he practically redefined what it means to “keep it real.”  Iverson is a no-doubt Hall of Famer, and I’m going to really miss watching him play.

After the jump, enjoy five great Allen Iverson moments.

Dummying Jordan:

Owning Tyronne Lue in the NBA Finals:

Talkin’ Bout Practice:

Dropping 60 against the Magic:

Are you kidding me?