NBA icon and Hall of Famer Allen “The Answer” Iverson is set to visit Australia next week for the NBL’s Hoops Fest. However, long before this anticipated appearance, Iverson was genuinely considering a move to the Australian league, creating one of the great “what if” moments in NBL history. He was once linked with the Sydney Kings following his illustrious NBA career.
Drafted No. 1 overall in 1996 by the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson became one of basketball’s most influential figures. Over 16 seasons in the NBA, he starred not only in Philadelphia but also with the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies, before returning to the 76ers to play his final NBA game on February 20, 2010, against Derrick Rose. Iverson finished his career averaging 26.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, earning accolades such as the 2001 MVP, 11 All-Star selections, Rookie of the Year in 1997, and having his No. 3 jersey retired in Philadelphia.
European Chapter and Australian Possibilities
Though his NBA career had ended, Iverson was not ready to walk away from the game. Later in 2010, he signed a two-year, $4 million contract with Turkish powerhouse Beşiktaş, a move that reignited his passion for basketball outside the United States. It was during this European chapter that the possibility of Iverson playing in Australia emerged.
The connection came through Rodney Overby, a former Sydney Kings announcer who had built a relationship with Iverson during his time commentating on the 76ers in the 1990s. Overby recalled meeting Iverson in Philadelphia and developing a friendship that lasted well beyond his NBA days. In a 2010 interview with the Daily Telegraph, Overby explained how the idea of Iverson joining the Kings began to take shape.
“I’m from Philadelphia, where he played, and I started commentating there. Because of the 76ers, we had something in common. I met him at TGI Fridays – a place he used to hang out – and from there the relationship grew,” he said.
Financial Hurdles and Strategic Vision
At the time, the biggest obstacle was financial. Iverson’s $4 million salary in Turkey dwarfed the NBL’s salary structure, with the league operating under a $1 million team salary cap. Yet Overby believed it wasn’t impossible.
“If people put their heads together and get serious, we could make it happen. I don’t know about the $4 million price tag, but with sponsorship, we could give him a comfortable pay packet,” Overby suggested.
Then-Sydney Kings General Manager Bob Turner was open to exploring the opportunity, even acknowledging the challenges. “I’ll definitely pursue the idea of bringing Iverson to the Kings,” Turner said. “He’s making a lot of money in Turkey and fitting him under the cap would be difficult, but I wouldn’t rule it out. Iverson opened the door.”
The Kings’ Rebuilding Era
The timing made the story even more compelling. The Kings had just returned to the NBL in 2010-11 after a dramatic two-year absence, following the club’s collapse in 2008 due to financial difficulties and unpaid player salaries. Former coach Brian Goorjian had departed, and the organization was rebuilding from the ground up. Securing one of the most recognizable players in basketball history would have been a defining moment for the club’s rebirth – and for the league as a whole.
The idea even played out publicly on social media. In an exchange on X (then Twitter), Overby urged Iverson to make the move.
“Dude, please come to Australia. You’re going to love the lifestyle, the weather. And instead of just being on the team, you’re going to own it – you might as well own the whole league.” Overby said.
Iverson responded candidly, acknowledging the possibility.
“I am very happy here in Istanbul, but if I don’t return to the NBA I am considering a move to Australia after my two-year contract is up,” he said. “I hear Sydney is a really good city to live in. My boy Rodney O asked me to come over. I am comin’!”
The Unfulfilled Dream and Enduring Legacy
Ultimately, the move never materialized. Salary cap restrictions, logistics, and the natural winding down of Iverson’s career meant the NBL never saw “The Answer” take the court in Australia. But the fact that it was ever a realistic conversation remains one of the most fascinating near-misses in the league’s history.
Now, as Iverson prepares to visit Australia for Hoops Fest, fans can only imagine what might have been: one of the most iconic players the game has ever seen wearing NBL colors. Even without stepping onto the court, his influence on global basketball – and his almost-Australian chapter – continues to resonate.
Allen Iverson will headline HoopsFest Perth in 2026, bringing global star power to a four-day celebration of basketball, culture, and entertainment across Western Australia.
