Akiem Hicks Described His Practice Methods By Trolling Allen Iverson

The Akiem Hicks practice passion is real. As is the devotion to Chicago itself. He's not just another athlete declaring he wants to stay because it's where he works. He has family here. That changes things. Hicks knows the landscape, the attractions and above all the rabid sports enthusiasm among its citizens. So there can be no down he is aware of the Allen Iverson situation. For those who aren't familiar, here's a quick recap. In the late '90s and early 2000s, Iverson became one of the next great attractions in NBA basketball. A freakish athlete with incredible athletic skills that produced highlights for days. Perhaps his greatest ever came when he played against Michael Jordan and the Bulls. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJMi5lvQqq8 During an offensive sequence he managed to elude Jordan with a vicious crossover and drained the bucket for two. It made news outlets across the country. Immediately several kids of the young generation started saying the words:  Iverson is better than Jordan. One can imagine how much that infuriated Chicago fans. Seems they haven't forgotten about it either. Twenty years after that moment, another Chicago fan decided take a playful shot at AI during a recent training camp press conference.

Akiem Hicks practice speech references Iverson

It started when Hicks got the question on whether he liked camp or felt it was too much or necessary. Most players would say it's tough and they wish it would be easier. A standard answer. Hicks threw that out the window and wen the opposite direction. Not only did he embrace camp and what it's done for him, but he used Iverson as an example of who he isn't.

"I don't think I've ever had a bad training camp," the 6-foot-5, 332-pound Hicks said. "I feel like I'm not (former NBA star) Allen Iverson. I've got to practice. "When I practice, I feel like, man, I've got to go full speed in order to know what it feels like when I step on the field in a real, live-bullet game. "So my foot is always on the gas as far as training camp goes because I know it's going to carry over to me having a productive season. So for me that's always going to be my goal, to kick butt in training camp."

Now this may seem a bit confusing. Why would a practice reference elicit such laughter? Well some younger sports fans should know that Iverson wasn't just famous for his highlights off the court. He had more than a few off it as well. Easily the most iconic was his press conference rant following the 2001-2002 playoffs. Philadelphia reporters asked him about his dedication to practice, a constant gripe of then-head coach Larry Brown. Iverson, rumored to be a bit drunk and clearly upset, fired back with this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tknXRyUEJtU It remains one of the greatest sporting rants of all-time. One that separated for good who Jordan was and who Iverson was. One was all about the work and other felt he didn't need the work. Hicks uses this as his reminder that the only way to achieve your full potential is through......wait for it.......practice.