Sixers

Sounds Like Allen Iverson’s Coach Once Suspended Him for a Game Against the Heat Just to Keep Him From Partying in Miami

By Matt Schultz

Published: Jul 7th, 2026 · 8:00 AM EDT

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It’s easy as a Sixers fan to think you’ve heard every Allen Iverson story there is by now. His partying lore feels pretty well documented. The tales have been told online, in medium-good documentaries that play on NBA TV when there’s nothing else going on, by people around the city who claim they used to see AI at the Fridays on City Ave. after every game, etc. etc. There’s a bunch out there— which is exactly why it’s so fun when one pops up that you’ve never heard before:

Allen Iverson says he scored 55, then got suspended the next game because somebody told his coach they saw him out at 5AM

“Let me tell you what this dude [Jim O’Brien] did to me. I had 55 in the game the night before, then he called me in his office”

“My friend said he seen you… pic.twitter.com/fHVKkaa7mm

— katsu (@katsuxbt) July 5, 2026

IVERSON: “Let me tell you what this dude did to me. I was out – he told me – he said – I had 50, I think 55 in the game the night before, he called me in his office, he said, ‘My friend seen you out at five in the morning last night. I’m suspending you for the game in Miami. You can’t go to Miami.’” 

ADAM LEFKOE: “He was trying to keep you from Miami.”

IVERSON: “I mean, he trying to keep us from winning, too.”

I think Lefkoe is spot on here: I don’t think AI’s getting suspended if the Sixers’ next game had been in Cleveland. Jim O’Brien 100% suspended Iverson to keep him off South Beach. The coach knew Iverson would wreak havoc down there. O’Brien knew he’d find a Florida Fridays and possibly never leave. He did what he had to do; he kept AI from even getting on the team plane. Pretty legendary stuff from Iverson.

A few more stray thoughts I had listening to it:

-How much explanation did O’Brien give about this “friend” that he had at the club? If I’m AI, I’m demanding to know which friend this was. You’re telling me your friend was also out that late? I’d imagine most of Jim O’Brien’s friends were also guys in their 50s. Seems odd that they’d hear about this. Kind of seems like O’Brien made this up. There was no friend. This was an O’Brien ruse.

-I wonder what game this was. I tried to find it (searched high-scoring Iverson games where he missed a Heat game at Miami shortly after) and came up with nothing. I am sorry. 

-It’s a bummer, but I don’t think we’ll ever see this level of partying from NBA players again, which means we’re going to hear less and less cool stories like this over time. Seems like only James Harden is left carrying the partying torch, and after that, it’s the end of an era. All the young guys coming up seem more interested in dressing insane and doing Twitch streams and playing video games. The hell happened to this game…

-Think it’s pretty cool that Allen Iverson never changed the way he dressed. He’s still dressing the same. Gotta respect that. I am currently doing a similar thing by not wearing big baggy jean shorts around this summer. I am tempted, of course. The big JNCO shorts are everywhere. Bet they’re comfortable too. But I’m not gonna do it… I will be like AI… Timeless…

-I love hearing Allen Iverson tell stories. I’m not sure he’d be great on his own podcast week in and week out – think that structure might be kind of limiting for his style – but I would like to hear him more. I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of the exact right place in the media for him, and I think I got it: Let him be the color guy during Sixers broadcasts. He can fill a John Kruk-type role. Give everyone some ball knowledge now and then, but mostly just keep viewers entertained with interesting stories and funny tidbits and stuff. Think that’d be pretty great. Who says no.