On the basketball court, point guard Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers is "The Answer," a player whose speed and skill make him one of the most dangerous all-around threats in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In his first season (1996-97) he earned the NBA Rookie of the Year award and dazzled opposing players with his lightning-quick cross-over dribble. Off the basketball court, however, Iverson has consistently made mistakes that could have cost him his career and even his life. The big question is whether "The Answer" will be remembered more for what he has accomplished as a basketball player than for the fact that he never lived up to his immense talent because he could not gain control of the controversy that swirls around him.

Growing up

Tough start

Allen Iverson was born June 7, 1975. His mother Ann was only 16 and living with her grandmother at the time...