PHILADELPHIA — Former Nuggets guard Allen Iverson is working on a comeback.
Gary Moore, Iverson’s personal manager, said Iverson is planning a return to the NBA next season. Iverson returned to the Philadelphia 76ers in December and took a leave of absence in March because of family issues.
“Allen is working out, and he’s getting himself prepared to make his return,” Moore said Friday. “He absolutely will try and play next year.”
Iverson left the 76ers to deal with an undisclosed illness of his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah.
“With God’s graces, she’s doing very well,” Moore said.
Iverson, who turned 35 on June 7, has not talked publicly since ending his second stint with the 76ers. Iverson’s wife, Tawanna, filed for divorce the same week he left the team.
“Allen wants to come and help a team win a championship, which he’s completely capable of doing,” Moore said.
• The Miami Heat exercised the team option for the final year of guard Mario Chalmers‘ contract.
Perilous path awaits Federer
WIMBLEDON, England — Six-time champion Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — the only man to beat him at Wimbledon in the last seven finals — were both handed tricky draws for the Grand Slam tournament that begins Monday.
Federer, seeded No. 1 although he has dropped to No. 2 in the rankings behind Nadal, is in the same top half of the draw with Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic and former champion Lleyton Hewitt.
Second-seeded Nadal has Andy Murray and Robin Soderling in the bottom half of the draw.
In the women’s draw, top-seeded and three-time champion Serena Williams has former winner Maria Sharapova and French Open runner-up Samantha Stosur in her half. Five-time champion Venus Williams has Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin in her half.
Footnotes.
Kasey Kahne turned a lap of 93.893 mph to win the pole for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 in the same car he drove to victory in last year’s race in Sonoma, Calif.
• After missing all of last year after surgery on both hips and grueling rehabilitation, Sherri Steinhauer stole the show in the opening round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway Township, N.J., with a 7-under-par 64.
• Robert Dinwiddie shot a 6-under 65 to lead Martin Wiegele (71—137) by a stroke after the second round of the Saint-Omer Open in France.
• John Daly shot a 2-under 68 and is three strokes behind leader Nathan Smith (70—131) after the second round of the Nationwide Tour’s Fort Smith Classic.
• New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore re-signed with the team.
• Former Dallas Cowboys defensive back Ken Hamlin reached agreement with the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year contract.
• The Nashville Predators signed defenseman Francis Bouillon to a two-year deal worth $2.7 million.
• Marcus Burghardt claimed his second stage win at the Tour of Switzerland, while Lance Armstrong remained seventh in the overall standings — 55 seconds behind Robert Gesink.
