Chris Webber: Allen Iverson is the best athlete that I’ve ever seen in my life

Chris Webber was one of several prominent players who was inducted into the Hall of Fame this past weekend.

Over the course of his 15 years in the NBA, the Michigan legend played for the Sacramento Kings for six years – arguably the most productive stretch of his pro career.

That said, Webber did also play for four other teams, one of which was the Philadelphia 76ers.

Midway through the 2005 season, Webber was shipped to Philly in hopes that he and Allen Iverson would form a championship-level duo. Unfortunately, that never ended up materializing. The pair never enjoyed the expected level of success together, and Iverson was eventually traded away to the Denver Nuggets.

When it was all said and done, Webber averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game over the course of 114 games with the Sixers. In 2007 he and the Sixers agreed to a reported $25 million contract buyout on the remaining two years left on his deal.

After bouncing around for another year, Webber retired. And although his time in Philly ultimately did not go as planned, he still looks back fondly on it for one particular reason: Iverson.

“A.I. is the best athlete that I’ve ever seen in my life. He’s the best player I’ve ever played with. Period,” he told Shams Charania of The Athletic this past week. “He’s the best player I’ve ever played with. Period. … It was an honor to play with him.”

In an age when Scottie Pippen can’t stop taking shots at Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal admits he didn’t appreciate Kobe Bryant until it was too late, it’s nice to see one legend give another his flowers while he’s still alive to see them.

Webber and Iverson may never have won a title together, but their impact on the sport of basketball makes them undisputable icons.