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Report: Allen Iverson may have been drunk during infamous 'practice' rant

TMS/HB Reuters

Allen Iverson was a legend on the court.

A guard who stood at just 6 feet tall, carrying his teams to the NBA Finals while leading the league in scoring was unheard of. He was fearless and unrelenting. He played the way he wanted and cared not for coaches and teammates.

And for a long time, his teams were successful, despite challenging every fibre of what was considered the fundamentals of basketball. His unique style inspired millions, including LeBron James, who said last week that he wanted to be Iverson when he was growing up.

But Iverson also made his name off the court. His persona - that of a lone ranger, the outlier, the unflinching David who stood up to the NBA's Goliath and challenged the league's public image - is what defines his legacy to this day.

The infamous "practice" rant embodied Iverson. It was an ignominious comment, but he was revered for it. The clip went on to become Iverson's most visible moment, save for maybe the stepping over of one Tyronn Lue.

As revealed by Kent Babb, author of Not a Game: The Incredible Rise and Unthinkable Fall of Allen Iverson, the Philadephia 76ers superstar might have been drunk when he infamously recanted the word "practice" before a throng of reporters.

The iconic speech may now be tainted for more than the poor message within.

It wasn't all pretty. Much of it wasn't. The controversy helped to make Iverson a compelling character at the time, but it hasn't held up particularly well with the benefit of hindsight.

Iverson's alcohol-inspired rant is just one of many serious allegations against the guard in Babb's book. As reported by Deadspin, Babb also reports in the book that Iverson once threatened his wife's life, among other offenses.

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