Allen Iverson. Image: Instagram/@theofficialai3
A man who took a bag that belongs to retired NBA superstar Allen Iverson has surrendered himself to the authorities. The bag contained $500,000 (P25.5 million) worth of jewelry.
Christopher Daniel, 21 years old, was lurking in the Sofitel Hotel in Philadelphia, United States before stealing the backpack, as per ABC-affiliate WPVI on Wednesday, Jan. 29. A friend of Iverson apparently left the bag on a chair in the lobby, after which Daniel picked it up, as reportedly seen in a security video.
Daniel confessed and returned the bag last Tuesday. He has been charged with multiple counts of theft.
The former Philadelphia 76ers player addressed the issue through a spokesperson, 24 hours after the alleged crime took place. Iverson thanked the police department for their help and the locals for their support, Fox News reported on Jan. 29.
The incident happened a few days after another NBA legend, Kobe Bryant’s untimely passing last Sunday. Iverson is grieving Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s death, as seen in his Instagram post last Wednesday, Jan. 28.
He said that despite the public’s perception of him and Kobe as competitors in basketball, his relationship with Kobe went deeper than that.
“His generosity and respect for the game is something that I witnessed first-hand every time we stepped on the dance floor to compete,” Iverson stated.
Iverson referred to Kobe as “a true student of the game of basketball and also the game of life.” He extended his thoughts and prayers to Kobe’s wife Vanessa and their three other children.
Iverson added, “He will always have my respect as a competitor, as a friend, as a brother.” Cha Lino/JB
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