Allen Iverson Facing Gambling and Alcohol Problems

Allen Iverson has had a difficult couple months, and today we may have an answer for his troubles, or we could be foreshadowing the worse to come. According to many NBA sources, the four time NBA scoring champion is facing extreme gambling and alcohol problems. These issues could explain Iverson's erratic behavior as of late, including his recent semi-retirement from the Philadelphia 76'ers.

Stephen A. Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer says Iverson will "either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away."

It is reported that Allen Iverson's gambling habits have become so bad, that he is banned from casinos in Atlantic City and Detroit, according to Smith.

As mentioned, Iverson is dealing with significant personal problems that have caused him to step away from basketball for the foreseeable future.

Iverson's wife Tawana filed for divorce on March 4, the same day the Philadelphia 76ers announced that Iverson would not return for the rest of the season. In the filing made at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta, Tawana Iverson said the couple's 8½-year marriage is "irretrievably broken" and sought full custody of the family's five children, child support and alimony.

Stephan A. Smith has followed Iverson's career closely since his arrival in Philadelphia. According to Smith, A.I. needs "ideal combination of compassion and toughness." When former Temple head coach John Chaney was asked who this person could be, he stated the person would be John Thompson, Iverson's one time coach at Georgetown, and lifetime mentor.

"[Thompson] is the one guy who'll have a chance of slowing this train wreck down, who could wrap his arms around Iverson and have an impact, because clearly it has not been done," Chaney said, according to Smith. "But there's still this one question: Will [Iverson] listen?"