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Six-Foot NBA Legend, Who Was Single-Handedly a Nightmare for Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s Lakers, Could Get a Massive Tribute From Joel Embiid’s 76ers

Published 06/28/2022, 9:30 PM EDT

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The Los Angeles Lakers were nearly unstoppable with the duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. The dominant duo led a dynasty winning three titles in three seasons. No team had an answer to their wrath. However, there was a six-foot guard who gave Kobe and Shaq a run for their money.

Philadelphia 76ers’ Allen Iverson led the Sixers all the way to the Finals and took on the Lakers. While he didn’t come out on top, Iverson was arguably the sole reason Philly saw the night of the NBA Finals in 2001. And now, the organization may be showing him some love years later.

Iverson made noise as soon as he came into the league. As a rookie, the NBA Hall of Famer made his first move by crossing up against Michael Jordan. His single snatchback paved the way for probably one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the NBA. Despite being a short player, Iverson’s gift’s far surpassed his shortcomings.

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He averaged  23.5 points and 7.5 assists in his rookie season. Everyone knew AI would become a superstar when he went on a five-game stretch of scoring 40 points or more in his rookie season. And the legend lived true.

While the Sixers legend did not win a single championship, Iverson was a monster in his MVP season. He took the Sixers to the Finals to face off against the champions, the Lakers. This is where Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal felt his full force. Now, years later, the city of Philadelphia is giving back to AI.

Sixers to bring back iconic Iverson jerseys used in face-off against Kobe Bryant and Lakers

Back in 2001, the Philadelphia 76ers had the best player in the league in Allen Iverson. Winning the Most Valuable Player Award that season, AI was the shining star. Despite his six-foot stature, he haunted oppositions with his nightly 31 points per game. And he did not slow down in the playoffs. After securing the number one seed, he took the Sixers all the way to the NBA Finals.

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No team seemingly had any chance at beating Kobe and Shaq at that time. However, Iverson single-handedly stole one game in those Finals, but the Superman-Batman duo weighed too much. However, no one has forgotten Iverson’s iconic 2001 heroics. Certainly not the Sixers who are getting ready to give the star a tribute.

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After carrying the Sixers to the heights of their glory, the organization is bringing back the iconic AI jerseys. According to the recent reports, Joel Embiid’s Sixers are getting the Iverson jersey for next season to pay tribute to their legend. To this day, Iverson remains the last Philly star to win the MVP award. But Joel Embiid may be on track to join the list.

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After a tough playoff loss this season, Embiid and the Sixers have a lot to prove this time around. The Process was arguably the most dominant player of the season, ranking second in the MVP voting. However, Embiid had to play through multiple injuries during the postseason. In addition, James Harden wasn’t half the offensive player he is capable of.

As a former MVP, the Beard’s hamstring has held him back over the last few seasons. But with this duo the best shot at winning, the Sixers are carrying heavy pressure entering a new season. And it all comes down to how they respond.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Lakers Legend Kobe Bryants Childhood Home: Where Did He Grow Up?

Do you think Joel Embiid can finish what Allen Iverson started against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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Written by:

Anuj Talwalkar

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Anuj Talwalkar is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He is a student studying at NM College in Mumbai, aspiring to pursue sports management to follow his love for sports. Anuj started following the NBA last year, and he loves to combine his passion for writing with his understanding of basketball.
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Edited by:

Veer Badani