The NBA world consists of more than just a basketball court, a ball and a few players. Its influence is something that has transcended boundaries and broken barriers. From music and films to sports apparel, a legacy created by a basketball entity spreads beyond the confines of an indoor arena. When discussing the former NBA players who had the most impact on an overall culture during their respective eras, the two names which pop up more prominently than others are that of Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson.
The Chicago Bulls icon established himself as an icon of the 90s, using his image to form his own sneakers brand. On the other hand, the Philadelphia 76ers legend adopted the hip-hop culture. Both helped in creating a lasting impact in fashion and lifestyle and turned heads everywhere. Jordan and Iverson’s contributions in this regard were recently put on a pedestal by prominent sports commentator, Dan Patrick, with him choosing his favourite among the two.
Dan Patrick states his opinion on the most ‘culturally impactful’ player
It all started back a few days ago, when Dan Patrick released another episode of his long-running ‘The Dan Patrick Show’. During the same, he was reminded by a caller that a statue of Allen Iverson will be erected on the Legends Walk, located in Philadelphia. While the caller stated that he feels the honour is a “well-deserved” one, it compelled him to wonder who is the one player who had the most overall cultural impact. Was it ‘Allen “Everybody’s copied my physical aesthetics” Iverson’ or ‘Michael “Everybody wears my shoes” Jordan’?
Dan Patrick’s co-hosts held varying opinions on the same. Some sided with Jordan, while the others gave the ultimate prop to Iverson. The 66-year-old sports commentator stated that he supported Jordan’s impact through the “business” aspect. He would have to, however, side with Iverson on the cultural ground. Even when his other co-hosts highlighted the impact that Jordan created on the sneakers industry by partnering with Nike, Patrick still believed that the Philadelphia 76ers star stood out due to one particular reason.
“Iverson was one person. He didn’t have a company that could capitalize on this,” said Patrick. “(He) opened the door for tattoos and he had no apology.”
Patrick respected the fact that Iverson owned a particular type of look and wasn’t sorry about it. He liked that, unlike Jordan, Iverson did not choose to take the help of any external organizations like Nike to promote his look. Having seen both eras of the respective dominating players, Dan Patrick seemed to have definitely spoken through his own personal experience.
Allen Iverson brought a unique fashion style into the NBA
Taking the commentator’s viewpoints into consideration, the author believes that Iverson’s praise definitely holds some merit. Michael Jordan was someone who symbolized the pinnacle of basketball excellence. His impact on the overall culture came owing to the fact that people worshipped his on-court prowess and his competitive personality. At the same time, Allen Iverson represented a different kind of cultural impact.
Through his trademark style, which consisted of braided hair, tattoos, baggy clothing and a dose of unapologetic attitude, AI challenged the traditional image of what an NBA player should look and act like. When people imitated his style, they didn’t do it because of his on-court prowess. They did it because they resonated with the message that Iverson was spreading through his fashion choice.
Iverson’s ‘unique’ chic characteristic emerged at a time when the NBA was starting to gain the reputation of a style and fashion powerhouse. This helped him to accelerate his image in the right direction and impact as many minds as he could. A prime example of The A.I phenomenon becoming popular came during the 2000-01 NBA season. The 76ers player had started wearing a basketball sleeve on his elbow after recovering from bursitis. His then rivals Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant liked the look very much, and started donning a sleeve on their elbows as well.
A.I.’s fashion choices challenged stereotypes
Michael Jordan had a cultural image that could allegedly be described as ‘polished’ and ‘marketable’. Iverson, on the other hand, embraced his true self. A.I.’s distinctive style of clothing, accompanied by shiny jewellery and tattoos, was a departure from the conservative fashion choices that were the norm for the other players. Furthermore, it resonated with the younger generation, who not only craved authenticity but also a fashion look that was relatable to them. Iverson believed so as well, explaining his thinking decades ago during an interview.
“My thing was I dress like the guys from my neighbourhood. I wouldn’t wear suits to a basketball game, I never wore a suit to the park. Everybody’s dressed up like they’re going to Sunday school. I just wore what I usually wear,” said Iverson. “I used to always say, ‘They want me to put on a suit. The outfit that I got on right now costs way more than a suit.”
The impact of Iverson’s style revolution could be felt within the confines of the NBA league. Its ‘repercussions’ were seen back in 2005, when then-commissioner David Stern released a public memo that prohibited players from wearing sleeveless shirts, T-shirts, shorts, jerseys or even hats that reportedly weren’t ‘pre-approved’. Even today, the rule has been unofficially named the “A.I. Rule”, marking Iverson’s impact on an overall culture once and for all.
The impact of Iverson’s style revolution could be felt within the confines of the NBA league. Its ‘repercussions’ were seen back in 2005, when then-commissioner David Stern released a public memo that prohibited players from wearing sleeveless shirts, T-shirts, shorts, jerseys or even hats that reportedly weren’t ‘pre-approved’. Even today, the rule has been unofficially named the “A.I. Rule”, marking Iverson’s impact on an overall culture once and for all.