Iverson sits out Grizzlies' season opener
Posted Oct 28 2009 7:45PM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The Memphis Grizzlies will have to wait a while longer for the debut of veteran guard Allen Iverson.
Iverson, the Grizzlies' highly publicized free-agent signing, was listed as inactive Wednesday night for the season opener against his former team, the Detroit Pistons.
Iverson is still recovering from a partially torn left hamstring he sustained early in the preseason. When an MRI revealed the tear on Oct. 7, the initial scheduled return was Wednesday's opening night.
But Iverson has been unable to practice while rehabilitating the injury and was not game ready.
"He's starting to work with us in a non-contact aspect, so that's a positive," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "That makes me feel good that it won't be long."
Iverson, who is entering his 14th season, signed with the Grizzlies on Sept. 10. The four-time NBA scoring champ is the biggest name ever to join the franchise, and his arrival has created a buzz for the team and the city.
The signing also raised questions regarding who will start. Mike Conley, the Grizzlies' first-round draft choice in 2007, is the incumbent at the point, but Iverson balked at coming off the bench last season in Detroit.
With Iverson on the shelf, Conley was expected to start against the Pistons, while Marcus Williams, an offseason signee who played nine games last season with Golden State, backed up Conley.
- 2010 All-Star Game
- TNT All-Decade
- Free Agent Tracker
- 2009 Playoffs
- 2009 NBA Draft
- twitter.com / NBA
- NBA on Facebook
- Transactions
- NBA on YouTube
- 2009-10 Awards
- Officiating & Rules
- Coach bios
- Hoopedia
 | Sunday's Top 10 Dunking, Slaming and Jamming highlight Sunday's Top 10 plays. |
 | The Daily Zap The Zap comes served with all of the NBA's highlights from Sunday in two minutes. |
 | Haier Play of the Day Josh Smith climbs the ladder to throw down the alley-oop pass from Joe Johnson. |
 | Game Time: Lorenzo Romar Lorenzo Romar talks with NBA TV about several topics including next weekend's game against West Virginia. |
 | Trail Blazers vs. Suns The Suns snap the Blazers five-game win streak led by Amar'e Stoudemire's 18 points and 14 rebounds. |
 | Spin Cycle Steve Nash drives right then puts Marcus Camby in the spin cycle on his way to the cup. |
 | Dunk of the Night Al Horford takes the pass and finishes with an amazing slam during the third quarter. |
 | Assist of the Night Steve Nash bounces this pass through three Blazer defenders to Jason Richardson for the layup. |
 | Nightly Notable Al Horford drops 22 points and grabs 18 boards in a Hawks win over the Spurs to clinch a playoff berth. |
 | Steal of the Night Marvin Williams picks off this inbounds pass from Tim Duncan then sinks a jumper to beat the halftime buzzer. |
NBA.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network