AI at Sixers-Celtics game, still wants to play

Philly fans may boo Santa Claus, but they have nothing but love for arguably the greatest basketball player in city history.

Allen Iverson was on hand for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Sixers and Celtics. He delivered the game ball to the floor prior to the game's start, and was met by thunderous applause from the fans.

Later, Iverson was interviewed by ESPN's Lisa Salters, who asked the former star about his future hoops plans.

"I want to play basketball so bad," Iverson said. "I mean, with the way it is right now, I've accepted the fact that [playing in the NBA] might not happen, but I still want to play basketball."

Philadelphia topped the Celtics 82-75 to force a Game 7 in Boston. 

Iverson played in the league for 14 years, including 12 with Philadelphia. The 6-0 point guard was named to 11 All-Star games, earned a spot on the All-NBA First Team three times, and was the 2001 league MVP.  He scored 24,368 career points, averaging 26.7 points per game.

Iverson was also one of the central figures in one of the great NBA playoff series of all-time when his Sixers took on Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors in the 2001 Eastern Conference semifinals. The series included three 50-point performances: Iverson dropped 54 in Game 2, Carter scored 50 in Game 3, and Iverson poured in 52 in Game 5. Philly won the series in seven -- including an 88-87 win in the decisive game -- and eventually advanced to the NBA Finals, where they fell in five to the Lakers.