On December 18, 1997, 25-year-old Aaron Mckie was traded to the 76ers by the Pistons, who had played for more than a year. Along with him was Theo Ratiliff, who would become a representative of high-quality defensive centers in the future. The two exchanged for Eric Montross and cutter Jerry Stakehouse. This is the second time in four years that he has been traded.
"it's over."
"This isn't 'over' like Vince Carter in the Slam Dunk Contest. I'm going to be traded to a losing team, I'm going to be traded to a team full of idiots."
Starting from the 1992-93 season, the 76ers won less than 30 games for five consecutive seasons. There are many talented players in the team, but the whole team is full of cynical reputation.
"This team has Derrick Coleman and Allen Iverson. I don't know them, but everyone knows the notoriety of these two players."
We`re talking about PRACTICE
After the first practice, McKie found that things were not as bad as he thought. After nearly two months of getting used to the season, he found that this team was different from the training atmosphere.
"The energy of training is very different. Everyone is serious and trying desperately to find the winning formula for this team."
The team has last year's No. 1 pick and rookie champion Allen Iverson, as well as famous coach Larry Brown, who joined the team in his first year. The young and old don't get along very well, but they are both eager to win.
"Training is very competitive. You should know that Allen is a very competitive player. He is extremely serious about every offense and defense. He is very confident and has a great attitude. He performs very well at work. This is very important. Infectious.”
Iverson and Brown, a pair of stubborn masters and apprentices, finally found the "answer" for the 76ers. With a powerful wall of meat from the front court to the back court, it helps the AI set up cover after cover, create offensive opportunities one after another, and fully unleash the offensive firepower like the God of War. AI won the scoring title in the 1998-99 season, and then averaged more than 30 points in four seasons.
Philadelphia and Allen Iverson have become synonymous with each other.
McKie's Media Identification Class
"This transaction taught me a lesson. Before coming to Philadelphia, my views on the 76ers and AI were based on public perception, but in fact I didn't know them at all!"
After getting along day and night, more practice time, bus trips, plane trips, and dinners, Mckie found that his understanding of his new teammates before being traded was actually covered with a "frivolous mask."
"The best time to get to know someone is after get off work. You will talk about your family, life, frustrations, and scenery during this time. You will talk about things that the general media cannot see during this time."
"During this period, I learned a lot from the interactions with my teammates and re-evaluated myself and life. I became very good friends with AI and Coleman."
The Philadelphia 76ers, led by Allen Iverson, have formed a team with rich emotions and tacit understanding, which is the secret to their successful record.
What you don’t know about Iverson
During this summer vacation when Iverson entered the Hall of Fame, McKie shared his story with AI on the website, hoping that fans could understand the God of War at different levels.
"Allen is a basketball apprentice."
Iverson collects all comments about himself, reads all pre-game scouting reports and film, and has a special relationship with his most frequent columnist, Phil Jasner. And his motivation to actively seek knowledge is based on a strong desire to win.
"In the 2001 championship game against the Lakers, Allen read all the reports and comments about it. He knew the Lakers were going to bring Tyronn Lue to lock him down, but you know, he said something like this: 'Tell you what. I'm going to destroy this guy. .』』
Lue showed his skills and showed his worth in the Championship Series. But Iverson played 52 minutes (McKie 51 minutes) in the first extended game of the championship series, scoring 48 points and leading the 76ers to defeat the Lakers, who had yet to lose in the playoffs that year. The most classic championship battle of his career.
He's not bad, he's my teammate
"Whether it's a big win or a disastrous defeat, the AI who gets on the team bus will always walk to the last row with a phone in hand. Sometimes it's family, sometimes it's friends on the other end of the phone." For an NBA player who quickly became famous, he gained wealth The speed of success is like winning the lottery. There are never too many people around you who need you.
"Playing in the NBA is harder off the court than off the court."
As a teammate who works closely together on the court and strengthens each other. Faced with family problems, McKie could only look at AI's sad eyes and ask, "Are you okay?"
Fast forward to the summer of 2016. After a career with the Nuggets, Pistons, Grizzlies, and a stay in Turkey, Allen Iverson, who has experienced ups and downs in life, received the highest honor on the basketball court: being elected to the Hall of Fame.
With 11 All-Star Games, 7 Teams of the Year, 4 scoring champions, and 1 Most Valuable Player of the Year, God of War AI is most grateful to the group of people who have fought together. "Without these guys, I wouldn't have the success I have in my career. They set screens for me, play hard, and they made my name a household name."
When reporters asked which teammate had the best relationship, a name came out of Iverson's mouth without hesitation: "Aaron McKie"
"I mean, he's my teammate, but in a different sense. He's my teammate and he's my friend."
After being teammates for 8 years, one is a great player who will go down in history, and the other is just a high-quality green leaf who will be mentioned in passing when the former is mentioned. The two still have a solid impact on each other's lives. "He has helped me so much in my career. He is the kind of friend I am willing to listen to and talk to about anything."
"Talking about the mistakes I've made in my career, there are probably a million. But without McKie, I might have made two million."
When talking about the past, 41-year-old Allen Iverson can always face himself with self-deprecating humor. And recalling this friendship becomes more and more fragrant with time.
