Fansided

5 ways Allen Iverson was a trendsetter

By John Buhler

UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 17: Philadelphia 76ers' Allan Iverson on court during game against the New Jersey Nets at Continental Airlines Arena. Iverson scored 28 points in the game, which the Nets lost, 94-82. (Photo by Howard Earl Simmons/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 17: Philadelphia 76ers' Allan Iverson on court during game against the New Jersey Nets at Continental Airlines Arena. Iverson scored 28 points in the game, which the Nets lost, 94-82. (Photo by Howard Earl Simmons/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES: Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson (L) and Eric Snow (R) talk during the second quarter of game four of the NBA Finals 13 June, 2001 at First Union Center in Philadelphia, PA. The Lakers lead the best-of-seven game series 2-1. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES: Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson (L) and Eric Snow (R) talk during the second quarter of game four of the NBA Finals 13 June, 2001 at First Union Center in Philadelphia, PA. The Lakers lead the best-of-seven game series 2-1. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images) /

4. Off-ball point guard

When Iverson went No. 1 to the 76ers in the 1996 NBA Draft, he was considered the point guard savior for a terrible Philadelphia team. His personality and competitive drive made him a hit in Philadelphia immediately. The only problem was that his style of play didn’t always make teammates better.

Iverson often focused on scoring because, frankly, he was the 76ers’ best scoring option on every play. The former high school standout at quarterback could drop dimes with the best of the point guards in the NBA, but needed to score at a high rate to give Philadelphia its best chance of winning.

Perhaps the best thing to happen to Iverson in his NBA career was the arrival of Eric Snow in 1998 from the Seattle SuperSonics. Snow played the more traditional role of point guard with Iverson sliding over to the two. Snow would run the offense with Iverson opening up the floor with him as an off-ball scoring guard. Snow’s size and defensive ability allowed him to defend opposing shooting guards which made the arrangement work at the other end as well.

Iverson’s play as an off-ball point guard gave way to great NBA players today like the Houston Rockets’ James Harden. Harden could run the point for the Rockets, but it better serves Houston for him to play off-ball with Patrick Beverley bring the ball up court.

Ball-dominant point guards can hurt teams significantly. By being cool with playing off the ball, Iverson paved the way for a new type of guard to thrive in the NBA: the facilitating scoring guard. Iverson was the prototype for players like Harden to succeed in the modern NBA.

Next: 3. The crossover on Michael Jordan

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