A look back at Allen Iverson's Hall of Fame career with the Philadelphia 76ers

When Allen Iverson — a guy who made a name for himself playing the role of David in a league full of Goliath's — is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night, he'll be joining a class that features two giants: the 7-foot-1, 325 pound Shaquille O'Neal and the 7-foot-6, 310 pound Yao Ming.

How fitting.

Standing at 6-feet tall (generously), weighing 165 pounds (soaking wet), what Iverson lacked in size he more than made up for with lightning-like quickness and a level of fearlessness so rarely seen by someone of his stature.

Off-the-court moments — like his infamous "practice" press conference or his utter disregard for the NBA's dress code — oftentimes drove headlines. But his game spoke for itself. Whether it was the 48-point onslaught capped off by the Tyronn Lue step-over in Game 1 of the 2001 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, or his epic crossover of Michael Jordan just a few months into his rookie season, opponents seldom had an answer for The Answer.

You may have loved him for his drive and passion for the game. You may hated him for his attitude that was so often viewed as reckless and brash. But there was no denying his talent. Talent that immortalized him in the eyes of Philadelphia, the city where he began his career and played 784 of his 985 games, earned eight of his 11 All-Star selections and was awarded his lone MVP Award after scoring a league-high 31.1 points while leading the franchise to its first Finals appearance in 18 years.

"It's a relationship that we might not ever see again, besides with Mike (Jordan) and his fans in Chicago," an emotional Iverson said referring to Philadelphia fans at his Hall of Fame press conference in April. "It's a long-lasting relationship. We connect. They love me because I gave everything I had. And they honor that. And I love them for what they gave me. The love and the support that they gave me. So it'll never be nothing like the relationship that I have with the fans in Philadelphia. I don't think it's possible. I don't think it'll ever happen."

And although a championship eluded him during his time in Philly, there's no debating his spot in Sixers franchise history, accompanying eternal legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Hal Greer and Moses Malone.

"I want my legacy to just be the guy that came out and gave everything he had," Iverson said. "The whole 165 pounds. The 6-foot frame. Everything he had. I gave it. To my teammates, to my coaches and my fans. I played every single game like it was my last."

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