A month after “crossing” Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson would completely consolidate his future title of rookie of the year. How ? By scoring more than 200 points in five matches.
The Sixers' back started with 44 points in Chicago, then 40 against Atlanta, 44 points in Milwaukee, 50 points against Cleveland and finally 40 against Washington. One downside, however: no victory for Philadelphia…
The peak of 50 points (17/32 on the shoot, 5/9 on 3-pts) against the Cavaliers, on April 12, 1997, remains his season record and a rare performance for a rookie. Since 1970, only three players have achieved such a performance in their first year: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (51 points in 1970), Allen Iverson and Brandon Jennings (55 points in 2009).
Allen Iverson, a breathtaking rookie season
That evening, “The Answer” became the second rookie in history to compile four games in a row with 40 points, behind Wilt Chamberlain, who had reached five games. He will join his illustrious elder a few days later, for an overall performance averaging 43.6 points at 50% shooting success over eight days.
At the end of January 1960, “The Stilt” averaged 46 points and 31 rebounds over five games before winning the rookie of the year and regular season MVP trophies!
| Allen Iverson | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 1996-97 | PHL | 76 | 40 | 41.6 | 34.1 | 70.2 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 7.5 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 4.4 | 0.3 | 23.5 |
| 1997-98 | PHL | 80 | 39 | 46.1 | 29.8 | 72.9 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 6.2 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 22.0 |
| 1998-99 | PHL | 48 | 42 | 41.2 | 29.1 | 75.1 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 3.5 | 0.2 | 26.8 |
| 1999-00 | PHL | 70 | 41 | 42.1 | 34.1 | 71.3 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 28.4 |
| 2000-01 ★ | PHL | 71 | 42 | 42.0 | 32.0 | 81.4 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 31.1 |
| 2001-02 | PHL | 60 | 44 | 39.8 | 29.1 | 81.2 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 0.2 | 31.4 |
| 2002-03 | PHL | 82 | 43 | 41.4 | 27.7 | 77.4 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 0.2 | 27.6 |
| 2003-04 | PHL | 48 | 43 | 38.7 | 28.6 | 74.5 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 0.1 | 26.4 |
| 2004-05 | PHL | 75 | 42 | 42.4 | 30.8 | 83.5 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 4.6 | 0.1 | 30.7 |
| 2005-06 | PHL | 72 | 43 | 44.7 | 32.3 | 81.4 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 7.4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 33.0 |
| 2006-07 * | All Teams | 65 | 43 | 44.2 | 31.5 | 79.5 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 7.2 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 26.3 |
| 2006-07 * | DEN | 50 | 42 | 45.4 | 34.7 | 75.9 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 7.2 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 4.0 | 0.2 | 24.8 |
| 2006-07 * | PHL | 15 | 43 | 41.3 | 22.6 | 88.5 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 4.4 | 0.1 | 31.2 |
| 2007-08 | DEN | 82 | 42 | 45.8 | 34.5 | 80.9 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 7.2 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 26.4 |
| 2008-09 * | All Teams | 57 | 37 | 41.7 | 28.3 | 78.1 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 17.5 |
| 2008-09 * | DET | 54 | 37 | 41.6 | 28.6 | 78.6 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 17.4 |
| 2008-09 * | DEN | 3 | 41 | 45.0 | 25.0 | 72.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 18.7 |
| 2009-10 * | All Teams | 28 | 31 | 43.0 | 36.0 | 79.4 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 13.8 |
| 2009-10 * | PHL | 25 | 32 | 41.7 | 33.3 | 82.4 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 13.9 |
| 2009-10 * | SAME | 3 | 22 | 57.7 | 100.0 | 50.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 12.3 |
| Total | 914 | 41 | 42.5 | 31.3 | 78.0 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 6.2 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 0.2 | 26.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
