Iverson: "I'm not a franchise player."

["Josh Ozersky" <jozersky1@nyc.rr.com>]

Incredible quotes from Iverson today, bordering on inconceivable.
Iverson is along with the shaq the most domineering star in the
league.  He told Ty Lue on the floor, "I'm the MVP and you ain't
shit."  Now, after a couple of beatings by Boston, he says he's
just "the best player on the team." Read on:

'I don't feel that I'm a franchise player,'' said Iverson, who is averaging
24.5 points but shot just 15 for 45 in the first two games. ''I feel like, as
one of the leaders on the team, it's my responsibility to try to step my game
up the best that I can. But it's important for me to not put all the pressure
on myself and go out there and try and do too much.''
While that seemed to hint that Iverson wanted to be a team player, further
comments suggested he did not feel like the team's unquestioned leader.

''Without even getting into it, I've felt like this for a long time,'' the
NBA's reigning MVP said. ''It doesn't have anything to even do with this
season. I just know I'm not a franchise player on this squad.''

[snip]

Later, Iverson completely throws in the towel:



''My teammates look at me that way, and probably the fans in Philadelphia feel
the same way,'' he said. ''But I don't care about being a franchise player or
anything like that. I just want to be a basketball player and just contribute
to this team and just do what I can, do the best that I can, and that's the
only thing I can ask out of myself. If it works, that's good, if it doesn't,
then I still can look in the mirror and say I tried.

Can you believe it?  What a loser!