Sixers fans have known for a long time that Allen Iverson was one of the toughest athletes in sports. USA Today helped to legitimize that claim by naming him the No. 2 toughest athlete in professional sports in a Feb. 18, 2004 feature. The Sixers All-Star guard has been sidelined with a litany of ailments in his professional career, but has always seemed to bounce back stronger than before. Here's a breakdown, body part by body part (and this is only the list that has caused him to miss games):
CAREER GAMES MISSED DUE TO INJURY
1996-97
1. Left shoulder separation 11/16/96-11/22/96 1-2
2. Sore left shoulder 12/12/96 and 12/14/96 0-2
3. Sprained left ankle 3/30/97 1-0
1998-99
4. Right quadriceps contusion 3/26/99 and 4/4/99 0-2
1999-2000
5. Broken right thumb 11/24/99 - 12/10/99 6-4
6. Synovitis, left knee, broken left big toe 4/18/00 1-0
2000-01
7. Right shoulder dislocation 12/26/00 1-0
8. Left knee contusion 1/19/01 1-0
9. Left hip pointer 3/14/01; 3/17/01 - 3/23/01 1-4
10. Tailbone contusion 4/4/01 - 4/6/01 2-0
11. Right elbow bursitis 4/17/01 - 4/18/01 1-1
12. Left sacroiliac joint contusion 5/26/01 (PO) 0-1
2001-02
13. Right elbow rehab 10/30/01 – 11/8/01 0-5
14. Sprained left thumb 12/7/01 – 12/8/01 0-2
15. Sprained right great toe 2/17/02 0-1
16. Fractured left hand 3/24/02 – 4/17/02 7-7
2003-04
17. Right knee contusion 11/19/03 1-0
18. Right knee cematoma 12/9/03 1-0
19. Right knee contusion 12/14/03 – 1/3/04 3-7
20. Right index finger sprain 1/27/04 – 1/28/04 0-2
21. Right shoulder contusion 2/23/04 – 3/3/04 1-3
22. Right knee synovitis 3/8/04 – 3/14/04 3-1
23. Right knee synovitis/right knee lesion of the articular cartilage of the trochlear groove 3/22/04 – 4/14/04 5-7
2004-05
24. Right Elbow Contusion 11/21/04 0-1
25. Right Ankle Sprain 1/9/05 0-1
26. Left Shoulder Strain 1/26/05 - 1/29/05 1-2
27. Flu-Like Symptoms 2/7/05 0-1
28. Right and Left Thumb Sprains 4/9/05 1-0
2005-06
29. Left Ankle Sprain 1/28/06 - 02/03/06 2-2
30. Right foot sprain and contusion 03/14/06 - 3/19/06 0-4
RECORD
Regular Season 40-61
Playoffs 0-1
Source: Espn.com
