Photo. G.LandThere was pretty much a sold decade’s worth of time where Allen Iverson was one of basketball’s most bankable athletes. Where A.I. played - home or away - tickets sold. A lot. But it appears that may no longer be the case. In light of THIS, Denver’s Rocky Mountain News ran a story about how the Nuggets may have actually lost money since trading for Iverson.
There are several reasons, apparently, for the loss - new contracts, luxury tax penalties, and … the Rockies?
Forbes Magazine reported the Nuggets had an operating loss last season of $4.8 million, the NBA’s fifth largest. In its previous annual report, Forbes reported the team had an operating gain of $9.4 million in 2005-06.
Andrews wouldn’t comment on Forbes’ figures, calling them “speculation” and saying, as a private company, the Nuggets don’t have to release financial information.
Iverson made $17.2 million last season and is earning $19 million this season. The Nuggets, with the NBA’s third-highest payroll at more than $83 million, are in line to exceed the luxury tax this season by more than $15 million.
The Iverson trade has resulted in the Nuggets this season taking on roughly $20 million more since they dealt Andre Miller, who has a salary-cap figure of $9.4 million, and Joe Smith, whose contract expired after last season. With the salaries of Miller and Iverson about $10 million apart, the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax makes the extra burden about $20 million.
“There’s always pressure,'’ Nuggets coach George Karl said when asked if owner Stan Kroenke’s big spending has resulted in the need to win big soon. “Is there more because of the tax? Probably.”
Attendance has gone up since Iverson arrived, but only by 1.4 percent when the one- year span is considered. The Nuggets have averaged 17,204 fans in 44 regular-season home games since the Iverson trade compared with 16,966 in the 44 regular-season games before the deal.
“I would think so,'’ Nuggets center Marcus Camby said when asked if he thought attendance would have increased more with Iverson. “But the Rockies had a great year, (and) there are a lot of loyal Broncos fans here. . . . We know when the Lakers come to town . . . the arena is going to be packed. But when we have the Portlands here or those other lower teams, they don’t seem to come out much.'’
Check out the full article HERE.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:54 am
YOUNGFED says:
Money well spent. AI 4Life. Favorite player all-time. The is who he has been no matter what. Gotta love something real.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Celts Fan says:
Amen youngfed. This guy busted his ass, night in, night out, every night for the past decade. One of the toughest guys to ever play.
December 19th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
YOUNGFED says:
PS. Tell the Comiss stop hatin’ and bring back the street clothes. What is he gonna band cornrows next. LOL.
December 19th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
kowtz says:
Why do these people keep on hitting on A.I. (hate him by the way for ruining LA’s supposedly perfect post-season)
Can somebody tell me how much Kenyon Martin and Nene is making????
December 19th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
penske1 says:
$13 and $9 mil. Good point.
http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/denver.htm
December 19th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Captain America says:
AI is worth his weight in gold, man. He’s a play maker and a scorer, he scores from the paint and the parameter. There are few if any with his combination of skills.
December 19th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Sheedfan87 says:
considering Portland just whopped Denver there 3 nights ago maybe Camby ought to choose his words carefully or more fans should come out.
December 19th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
dagwaller says:
Whenever anyone tells me that NBA players don’t try hard, I think about guys like AI and KG, that always play their hardest every night…
December 19th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
doc says:
it aint ai fault they kickin out to them other bums
December 19th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
What is this!? says:
I agree with everyone else on this comment section about Iverson. For some reason, Denver stays Hating on him (I think it’s because he outshines Melo, which given the player Iverson is was expected anyways)…I read the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News and they are BOTH very condesending when it comes to Iverson. I thought Philly was bad but I stand corrected. When Denver was close to getting Iverson in the trade, Rocky Mountain “journalists” ran one of the WORST stories I have ever heard on Iverson. They talked about him so bad. I mean I knew there were people out there that hated Iverson, but come on now, at least be responsible with your shit when you’re writing about somebody.
When Iverson first got to Denver they sold over 300 season tickets in like 30 minutes and sold about 1.7 million dollars or so in regular tickets that day. So to question wether or not he’s still bankable is BOGUS. They still sellout on the road when the Nuggets come to town, WHY? Because of Iverson. Melo is a cool player, but he’s not the type of BOX OFFICE player Iverson is…A guy like Iverson belongs in a B-BALL city, which Denver is NOT. They are lucky to even have a player of Iversons caliber in that city anyways. He’s one of the biggest names in SPORTS. God those people are annoying….and DIME whats up with you guys running all these negative stories on Iverson lately? You folks are starting to get worse then the regular Media. *shakes head* Why not write about how that guy is single handedly keeping the Nuggets heads above water, because if it wasn’t for his performances this last month…this team would be under .500.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Tim says:
AI is probably the most astoundingly good little man of all time (in terms if his skills, speed, hops, moves etc) but hes not a winner so he’s not the greatest little man. I don’t even like Isaiah Thomas, but as a player, I think he still holds the crown for greatest little man O.A.T.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
gdon says:
put isiah on that philly team AI brough to the finals. i doubt they’d be out of the first round.
December 20th, 2007 at 1:56 am
What is this!? says:
I agree gdone,
I think it’s sounds crazy when people say that Iverson isn’t a winner when he led a team to the Finals and won a game against the “no lose Lakers” in the Finals. There are some of “Superstars” that haven’t even got out the first round yet, let alone to the Finals. So if Iverson is not a “winner”, then neither are K.G, T-MAC or Steve Nash and many others. People tend to forget that.
December 20th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Kudabeen says:
Until he retires and the numbers he put up are constantly compared to the next best little guys or just guards period…AI will not get full credit. Melo, was supposed to have a monster year, but he hasn’t been producing. He don’t look focused. I made that point months ago. As reliable Melo’s J is in the clutch he isn’t a dominant competitor. He doesn’t like getting dirty out there. He’s not a lead guy just yet in his development. They will be losing and he’s smiling after bad shots…It’s one thing to love the game and have fun out there, but out of respect for the competitors who have came before you and left an imprint on the world as to what competition is…you can’t be clowin’ around on the court. He needs someone pushing him in practice to get more of a mean streak on the court.
Sorry for the aside. Good point about Kenyon and NeNe making more $$ than they are producing. Iverson is deferring to melo too much at times. Like that 51 point game, old Iverson would have hit that third gear and tried to get the team a win, but he started dishing consciously to share. You can’t play the game with dual mentalities! He is being asked to do so. In games like that Game 7 against the Bucks when he was hurt in 2001. He knew he was n’t going to be able to carry the load so Larry Brown told him to create and trust his team. They came threw and he had like 15 or 16 assist. When he is in PG mode he gets the big assist numbers, but his best mode happens to be breakdown mode. People can hate, but he is still 3rd all-time scoring average. This year 3rd in the league in scoring, 10th in assist, 3rd in steals… What else do people what him to do?!?! Levitate around the court like he’s M.Bison or something???
Just enjoy the brilliance because it’s a once in a life time experience…
December 20th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Tim says:
Its not about numbers. If it was, he’d be the GOAT little man. It’s about making your team better. “What is this?” - I agree that KG and T-Mac etc cant be called winners either. AI and a lot of these guys can single handedy win a lot of games, but unless you can play a real team game and inspire your lesser teammates to step up to higher levels of performance on a consisent basis through the way you play and behave and communicate with them, you’ll never be a real winner in a team sport. Too bad the NBA isn’t 1 on 1. Theres a huge difference between being great to watch and putting up numbers and doing all the little things it takes to win. So many of these guys never “get it”.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:36 am
Kudabeen says:
What are you saying?? Did you watch the NBA in 2000-2001? The sixers had a less talented team than Bron’s Cavs. But it’s all subjective right? It’s even easier to knock a guy like Iverson…
He gets it, KG gets it…It’s about having guys capable of getting to your level. You can only carry another man so far, before he has to learn to walk on his own. I’ll use Kobe as an example. Who on that Laker’s team carried Kobe? Yes, Derek Fisher was a great mentor, Byron Scott was a great mentor, but we would never say those guys were the marque players. That would have been Shaq and he sure as hell isn’t a great teammate by comparison to the guys we consistently knock. He is as selfish and arrogant as they come, but he cracks a few jokes in between and is a big guy, so it’s acceptable behavior.
So I guess the rule is, If you are a big guy in the League you have the right to believe you are your teams best option to win and everything should run through you first, but if you are a guy that is considered a guard, works the hardest on your team, wins numerous games on will and heart as much as talent, you have no right to the title of leader?
I guess that why MJ is the greatest, because he was the blueprint to how to win with a dominant scoring guard. Not this aged big-man infatuation fueled model of success. Balanced talents and conditioning is key. Kobe doesn’t have Pippen and heady veterans to support him. He has a lot of good young talent, Odom who just isn’t a fierce competitor, and a great veteran in Fisher. When has AI even had an Odom type player next to him…Webber? Who acted hurt physically, when it was really his mental liabilities at play?
That’s lame. Guys like AI and KG bust their ass to get their teams to that next level and were successful to a point. I do a with or without comparison. Without Duncan Spurs are a playoff team, with him a Contender every year. Without KG wolves are absolute garbage, by NBA standards, but with him they are expected to be a playoff team, even if he is their lone All-star caliber talent (not fair). Without AI sixers are a joke, with him they have a chance to make noise in the playoffs. How many games did this guy win on the big stage on his will? 10 steals in a game, 16 assist in game 7, scoring binges to lift his team from certain defeat…How is that not winning. This trophy worship has got to stop. The trophy is just the consolation prize. To me enduring the journey and battling through adversity to compete at this level is being a winner. If you are a Hall of Fame player how are you not a winner? You don’t have to win a chip to be in the HOF. Let’s just say Robert Horry is a better player and winner than Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, Magic, Bird, Duncan, etc… That would be ridiculous, almost as ridiculous as saying guys like Iverson and KG aren’t winning talents…I can’t say the same for the Vince, Tracy, Webber, type players, but Iverson, Kobe, Wade, Howard (both of them), Nash, Zo, Bron, Ginobli, Duncan, and KG are definitions of winning determination along with a few others…
People are so quick ride other players nuts and call them winners, but that’s based on just being a fan of how they did it. Name me a guy that wins Chips as the lone super-talent on the team? No one! Duncan is the greatest model of being a winner in comparison to him no one deserves to be called a winner in the league right now. He is as selfless as KG, but he he had all-stars and proven professionals surrounding him on the court and in the front office. Be real. San Antonio and Detroit has the best organizations in the league and it is reflected in the standings. Organizations win. AI is a winner to me, because he never quits in his pursuit of winning. He is playing at an optimal level, but the nuggets are still second rate, because the talent mix isn’t complimentary, it’s just great on paper. Teams don’t win Chips through magazine articles or newspaper clippings, they win on the floor.
I listen to the Gurus of the game. Russel, Thompson, West, L. Brown, Dumars, Phil Jack, Dr. Jack
If any of these guys say Iverson isn’t a winner I’d have really second guess myself, but they would do that, because the really love and understand what Basketball competition at that level takes. Bill Russel and (RIP) Red Auerbach have the final say as to what makes a winner… all other perspectives are as subjective as they are inaccurate…
lengthy, but I just love the game and have great respect for what these guys are able to accomplish physically and mentally. I don’t think people are able to really humble themselves athletically to realize just how unimaginably difficult it is to produce at the level of the game’s greatest competitors. They just keep showing up and producing. That is the definition of winning to me…
December 22nd, 2007 at 12:15 pm
sam says:
Kudabeen, do you watch the NBA? KG is not on the wolves anymore…
December 23rd, 2007 at 11:24 am
Mike says:
He knows that I am sure, however he was speaking about perception of KG and until this season he was a wolf so, he is accurate in his statement, if you read it he is speaking about the idea that the wolves should have been playoff/finals contenders simply because they had KG.