The little boy looked up at his father with those innocent, little-boy eyes.
“Daddy,” he said, “don’t leave Philadelphia.”
Allen Iverson looked down at his son and asked him why he felt that way.
A teacher, his son said, had asked him to say that to his dad.
“Having my kids deal with the trade rumors,” Iverson sighed, followed by a brief pause, “that was the toughest part.”
Last December, the emotions smothered the Iverson family as the patriarch sought a trade from the 76ers, the team he carried for a decade in a city that adored him. One year ago today, he got his wish, a trade to the Nuggets.
“I felt like a newborn,” said Iverson, the starting shooting guard. “A brand-new life, and a life I want to live. This is where I want to be.”
One year later, those early images are indelible, even if his new team has not yet made the jump many expected, after the addition of a perennial all-star.
His smiling children in their new city.
His smiling teammate in the No. 15 jersey.
His first moments on the Pepsi Center court, three days after the trade.
“I went to the scorer’s table, and everybody started going crazy,” Iverson said about his first game for Denver. “Man, I had goose bumps so bad. That was the point where I felt — I’m comfortable, I’m home, I’m embraced.
“And that’s what I wanted more than anything, to have the fans embrace me, and for me to show the fans what I’ve been showing the people in Philly — that I play every game like it’s my last.”
The Nuggets remain steadfast in their belief that with A.I. they can contend for a championship. With him, they have one of the game’s greatest scorers, a player who oozes hustle.
“He has a superhuman body,” said his coach, George Karl.
Carmelo Anthony, No. 15 in powder blue, is a similarly explosive scorer. Entering play Tuesday, Iverson was third in the NBA averaging 25.9 points per game, and Anthony was seventh (24.3), the only teammates among the top-10 scorers.
Moreover, Denver has the reigning defensive player of the year in Marcus Camby, a rehabilitated and rejuvenated former all-star in Kenyon Martin and emerging young role players in Linas Kleiza and Nene.
Last season, the Nuggets wedged Iverson into their system in late December and ultimately were drummed out of the first round of the playoffs, 4-1, by eventual champion San Antonio.
This season, the Nuggets are 14-10, teasing with their potential but inconsistent at times.
“I think because of the circumstances from last year, the mode is — to make that step from a top-12 team to a top-five team,” Karl said. “Have we gotten there yet? It’s (yet) to be proven in the regular season. Are we going to be professional, focused and demanding of ourselves? Are we going to be able to do the little things in basketball, rather than just the offensive skills, to win the big games?”
An optimist says this team should be pleased with its record, especially considering the injuries to several key players. And the Nuggets have defeated quality teams, such as Dallas and New Orleans. Poor defense has hurt Denver in some games, but there have been nights where the defense actually has won the game.
“As a team,” Iverson said, “defensively and chemistry-wise, we have to become a lot better, night in, night out. Once we get that mentality, we’ll be all right.”
A pessimist says the Nuggets aren’t any better than they were 366 days ago. In the many games they have won, it’s because they simply won the track meet. Their record is an OK 45-38 since Iverson arrived — though, it’s not completely fair to use that record as a litmus test, because it combines two seasons. And, even though they’re fun to watch in highlight reels, there are many nights where the Nuggets lack cohesiveness. Sometimes, that happens against lesser opponents.
The Nuggets splurged to attain Iverson. They’ll pay him $19 million this season, and they are estimated to surpass the NBA’s luxury tax by about $15 million. Attendance is up only slightly since his arrival, so the expected boon in interest hasn’t translated to the stands.
But there’s one thing the optimist and pessimist can agree upon: You cannot completely judge the Iverson deal until the guy plays at least a full season for Denver.
“We could be playing better,” Iverson said. “But I’m happy with where we are — and where we’re headed.”
Since 1994, Nuggets fan Vicki May has missed just two home games. She has seen a lot of uniforms, a lot of guys named Ellis, a lot of losses.
When her team made the trade for Iverson, she was, admittedly, “a little leery.” She had heard some bad news about his troubled past.
Now?
“I adore him,” she said, “and am pleased with all he has brought to my Nuggets.”
Iverson has jolted the hard-core fans who come just to see the phenomenon. Sometimes, like earlier this season when he scored 51 points, it’s hard to believe he belongs to Denver.
“The excitement spills over into the fans,” May said. “There were times when I was at Nuggets games where they never cheered for anything. He seems to be that one piece that makes them better, makes them play together, makes them the Nuggets.”
And Iverson wants to be a Nugget for the rest of his career. The 32-year-old has said many times this season that he wants to opt out of his contract, which expires after next season, and sign a six-year deal to retire as a Nugget.
“Hopefully,” he said, “this is my last stop.”
But, just as in Philadelphia one winter ago, nothing is certain. It’s rare to give a player in his 30s, even if with a “superhuman” body, a six-year deal.
But right now, after a messy divorce with Philadelphia, Iverson has embraced his new relationship with Denver.
The next step is a ring.
Footnotes. Nene, who is rehabbing after left thumb surgery, has been cleared to begin ballhandling and shooting. He will be cleared for full basketball activity Friday. Karl expects Nene to begin playing in games about Jan. 1. Nene will wear a small splint and tape on his thumb. Nuggets point guard Chucky Atkins (groin) has begun full-speed running, and he has targeted a return date of Dec. 26.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
