How's That Back Injury?

Just in case there was any remaining doubt about the real reason Allen Iverson is no longer playing for the Pistons:

Pistons president Joe Dumars reiterated Wednesday via e-mail that Iverson's leave from the team -- granted on April 3 after Dumars and Iverson met to address the 33-year-old's increasing frustration with a reserve role -- will remain in effect for the duration of Detroit's stay in the playoffs.
–ESPN.com’s Marc Stein

The back injury was a convenient excuse, but the facts got in the way of anyone believing that. Piston doctors found no structural damage in Iverson’s back, Iverson had played through pain his entire career, he returned from the alleged injury to play three games just as effectively (or ineffectively) as he had earlier in the season, and he repeatedly complained about his role. When he was shut down for the season, his back injury was reported as the primary culprit. It never made sense. It is unclear if the decision for Iverson and the Pistons to part ways had to do with Iverson’s refusal to accept a bench role, Dumars’ refusal to accept a player who was doing more harm than good while in the game, or a combination of the two. However, it is more clear than ever that Iverson's professed back injury had little to do with the separation of player and team.