Allen Iverson Reflects on His Iconic 'Practice' Rant: 'It Wasn’t Funny Back Then'

Allen Iverson is setting the record straight about one of the most infamous moments in sports history — his unforgettable 2002 "practice" rant.

During his appearance on CBS Mornings this week, the NBA Hall of Famer addressed the viral press conference that has lived on in memes and highlight reels for decades. While fans still laugh about the clip over 20 years later, Iverson made it clear that it wasn't a joke to him at the time.

"I've never came out and said I didn't like practice. That's a perception that you got from that rant, from the legendary rant," Iverson explained. "I definitely see the humor in it. But if you're me, you knew what was going on at that time. It wasn't funny back then, but I was so upset about the practice thing, I could've explained myself a little better."

At the time of the 2002 outburst, Iverson was grieving the loss of a close friend and facing intense media scrutiny following the Philadelphia 76ers' playoff elimination. What became one of sports' most replayed soundbites was, in Iverson's view, an emotional reaction to personal struggles off the court.

The 11-time All-Star said that while he now understands why the clip became part of pop culture, it represents a painful chapter in his life that many didn't see. Elsewhere in his chat with CBS, the 2001 MVP also revealed that he has been six months sober, calling it "one of the best decisions" he's ever made.

"One of the best decisions I ever made in my life was to stop drinking," Iverson said. "[I'm doing] better than I did when I was doing it. When you get drunk, you're not how you usually are."

He added, "The more and more I see it on other people, the more and more it make me happy about the decision. And the more and more I see how the people around me appreciate it, I love it."