Iverson discusses sobriety, lowest point in life

Allen Iverson, discussing his caller memoir, "Misunderstood" connected ESPN's First Take, discussed the lowest constituent of his beingness - and it didn't impact thing that happened connected a hoops court.

"It was self-inflicted," Iverson told big Stephen A. Smith. "But it was erstwhile Tawanna divorced me."

Tawanna Turner and Iverson joined successful 2001. Iverson's superstardom coincided with their marriage, and conscionable similar Iverson's career, it was up and down.

The 2 divided successful 2008, and the divorcement was last successful 2013. And that coincided with the extremity of Iverson's vocation - helium officially retired successful October 2013, saying helium had nary tendency to play anymore.

"That's erstwhile I knew I'd deed my lowest constituent and it was clip for heavy aforesaid re-evaluation," helium said. "When I'm sitting determination successful that tribunal room, I utilized to ticker Sixers vs. Sixers successful a scrimmage, oregon Georgetown vs. Georgetown. Them tears started to deed the (divorce) papers erstwhile I looked down and spot 'Iverson vs. Iverson.'"

Asked however helium got Tawanna to travel back, helium said, "A batch of Keith Sweat. I had to beg a lot."

As a large portion of that heavy re-evaluation of himself and rebuilding of his marriage, Iverson said helium realized that intoxicant was a large problem, and helium was bushed of warring it. The divorce, his career's end, each the baggage from his younker - it was each weighing connected him.

"It's a plethora of things. Ultimately, erstwhile you measure your maturation and what's important and what you mean to your household and friends and the world, I conscionable thought astir the mode I was expected to beryllium successful life. And I didn't spot however (alcohol) was helping any," helium said. "All I could deliberation astir was antagonistic experiences."

Iverson said helium realizes that a batch of young NBA players look up to him, and helium however helium shaped this procreation of players.

"I made of batch of them comfy successful their ain tegument and consciousness that they are capable to explicit themselves," helium said. "I emotion everything that's happening with our league and the betterment of the younger players. We volition ne'er beryllium abbreviated of superstars.

"The crippled is successful large hands."