CHINA TOPIX

12/23/2024 02:06:44 am

Make CT Your Homepage

Allen Iverson China Tour Ruined By Dubious Chinese Agents

Allen Iverson

(Photo : Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 27: Former professional basketball player Allen Iverson attends the 'Iverson' Premiere during the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival at the SVA Theater on April 27, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival)

Allen Iverson's recent China tour was reportedly ruined by two Chinese agents who said to have cheated him of his contract, as per Shanghai Daily.

The former NBA great, who played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies, signed a deal with Chinese agents Li Dong of Tianjin Qi Di Culture Co., Ltd and David Lee of Beijing Landmark Advertisement Co., Ltd for him to visit the Asian nation from the 19th to the 31st of May.

Like Us on Facebook

Basketball Buddha reported that Iverson's NBA agent, Muhammed Abdur-Rahim, finalized the agreement with his Chinese counterparts on April 20 and everything seemed to be going smoothly as planned.

It was indicated in Iverson's contract that he will go on a 12-day tour through different Chinese cities across the country to showcase his first amateur coaching experience, in which he is supposed to lead a bunch of non-professional American players to compete on friendly games versus domestic teams. There was no mention of any obligations to play on the court.

However, as it turned out to be, Li and Lee had failed to announce to the local organizers and fans that Iverson will only coach and not play, which led to a lot of chaos and confusion the whole tour.

The problem began as soon as the processing of Iverson and his camp's visa. Miscommunications between the agents led to a delay of the release of their visa and consequently the American's late arrival in Shanghai on the 20th.

It was then agreed that the supposed-to-be first leg of the tour in Daqing City on the 19th will be re-scheduled on June 1st. From that moment, it appears to be smooth sailing once again.

But fans had already anticipated the former NBA MVP to play during the exhibition games, causing a lot of trouble, which prompted Li and Lee to offer Iverson $1.5 million to play for a total of 10 minutes during the last four days of the visit. It was a bedlam to the point of almost disallowing Iverson and his crew to leave the country unless they give in to the fans' demands.

Iverson reportedly rejected the money but played for two minutes in one game. He also wanted to sue the promoters for breaching their contract, according to RealGM.

As of the moment, the 11-time All-Star is back in the United States and vows never to return to China again despite of his love for the Chinese basketball enthusiasts whom he had affectionately called "the greatest basketball fans in the world."

Real Time Analytics