The lights dimmed as the video scoreboard started playing Allen Iverson's career highlights.
There he was being announced as Philadelphia's No. 1 draft pick, and later holding his MVP award. There he was celebrating victories, acting silly off the court and hugging former coach Larry Brown.
The memories showed what makes Iverson so valuable and why the Sixers couldn't afford to lose him. Now, they won't have to worry about that.
Iverson signed a four-year contract extension with the 76ers on Wednesday that will keep the three-time NBA scoring champion with them through the 2008-2009 season.
"I always wanted to be a Sixer. I always wanted to finish my career as a Sixer," Iverson said as the deal was announced at a special event for season ticket-holders at the Wachovia Center.
Terms were not announced, but a team source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday the extension would pay Iverson US$76.7 million over the four years.
"Allen said he always wanted to be a Philadelphia 76er and, with this contract, we're telling him we always want him here as well," team president Billy King said.
Iverson has one year plus an option remaining on his current deal, which will pay him more than US$28 million over the next two years. The extension begins in 2005-2006.
Iverson is entering the final year of a six-year, US$71 million contract, including an option year, that he signed after the 1997-1998 season.
Iverson and King signed the contract in front of nearly 200 wildly cheering fans. Iverson will be 33 when the deal expires and it means he will be the longest-tenured Sixer in team history.
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