For Allen Iverson and his wife, Tawanna Turner, reigniting the flame of their love proved to be a transformative journey. The former NBA icon disclosed that over a decade after their 2013 divorce, he and Tawanna have rekindled their romance, sharing how the end of their marriage, initiated by his longtime love, became a pivotal turning point in his life.
"It was self-imposed, but when Tawanna divorced me, that's when I realized I'd hit rock bottom and it was time for some profound self-reflection," Allen confessed to Stephen A. Smith on First Take on October 8. "I mean, she's my number one. We've been together for 35 years. If you stick around that long, it takes a lot to want to leave. And I discovered that after we got back together."
Tawanna, who shares five children with Allen—Tiaura, 30; Allen II, 27; Isaiah, 22; Messiah, 20; and Dream, 17—initially filed for divorce in 2010 but withdrew the request. However, the following year, the 50-year-old, who had married Allen in 2001 after falling in love during their high school years, filed again, leading to their divorce being finalized in 2013.
The Philadelphia 76ers legend vividly recalled the emotional experience of witnessing the legal dissolution of his marriage. "I tried everything, but nothing worked," Allen recounted. "And there I was, sitting in that courtroom, usually watching Sixers vs. Sixers in scrimmages or Georgetown vs. Georgetown, and tears started streaming down as I saw 'Iverson vs. Iverson' on the docket. I thought, 'Oh man, this is as low as it gets.'"
For the author of Misunderstood, who recently revealed he's been sober from alcohol for six months, Tawanna's unwavering support spurred him to make significant life changes. "I had to overhaul a lot of things," the 50-year-old admitted. "What's remarkable is that when I told her I was stopping drinking, she said it was the first time she'd ever prayed about it—because I'd tried to quit before. That was the first time she mentioned praying, and I knew I meant it this time."
For Allen, winning back the love of his life entailed hard work and a commitment to becoming a transformed man. "A lot of Keith Sweat," he joked on First Take, referring to his approach to mending their relationship. "I had to do a lot of pleading, and I had to convince her that this wasn't the same old me. I expressed to her how much she meant to me, how pivotal she is in my growth, maturation, and where I aim to go in life."
He continued, "I don't feel like the same Allen Iverson without her. She is my life."
