5 greatest moments of Allen Iverson’s career

3. Rookie AI drops 50 on Cleveland

The rookie season of Allen Iverson was special, and at one point, was record setting. During the 1959-1960 season, Wilt Chamberlain set an NBA record by being the first rookie to score 40 or more points in three straight games. 37 years later, another Philadelphia rookie would break that record, scoring 40 or more in five straight games, including a 50 point outburst to break the record against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gund Arena on April 12, 1997.

The 76ers were a bad team during his rookie year, but Iverson was a polarizing figure. He was booed a lot during his rookie season, including being booed at the Gund Arena during the 1997 Schick Rookie Game that February. In that contest, Iverson was named the game MVP, after scoring 19 points in a 96-91 East victory.

The crowd did not boo Iverson on this night as the 20,009 people in attendance gave him a standing ovation when he went to the sidelines. For the game, Iverson finished 17-32 from the field, including five three-points, and was 11-18 from the line. He also added five rebounds and six assists.

In his next game, AI would drop 40 points on the Washington Bullets, though it would end his run at five games. For his efforts, Iverson would be named the 1997 NBA Rookie of the Year, and many attribute his hot stretch at the end of the season as the reason he beat out guys like Stephon Marbury and Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

Next: No. 2 Lights up Charlotte for 55 in Playoffs