'The Answer' to the question: Allen Iverson ready to retire

MANILA, Philippines – Allen Iverson has given up on his dream of returning to the stage he once dominated.

Iverson, 38, is ready to hang up his sneakers for good according to a report by SLAM magazine on Wednesday (Thursday Manila time).

The 11-time NBA All Star last played in the NBA in 2010 with the Philadelphia 76ers, the team that originally drafted him out of the Georgetown University in 1996.

After his brief stint with the Sixers in 2010, he tried to revive his basketball career overseas but did not prosper. He last played professional basketball in Turkey in 2011.

Early this year, Iverson turned down an offer to play with the Dallas Mavericks’ D-League affiliate Texas Legends. He appeared in a Sixers game last March as the franchise honored him with a bobblehead giveaway.

In his 13-year career in the NBA, Iverson, who was nicknamed "The Answer", enjoyed the prime of his career with the Sixers before he drifted to Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies and out of the league.

Larry Brown, Iverson’s coach from 1997-2003 at Philadelphia felt “he might be the greatest athlete” he had ever seen.

“I don’t think there’ll be another one like him,” Brown was quoted saying to SLAM.

The 6-foot explosive scorer had career averages of 26.7 points, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals in 41.1 minutes per game. He also averaged 29.7 points and 6 assists in 71 playoff games and was the league scoring champion for four years.

Iverson, who became the league’s Rookie of the Year in 1996-97 season, easily became an instant fan favorite with his durability and ability to drive into the lane against taller opponents.

He led the Sixers to the NBA Finals and was named the league MVP in 2000-01 season.

Iverson will be eligible for induction in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.