Sports Ticker's Chris Bernucca writes of the most memorable NBA feat of 2001. Sure, Shaq and Kobe continued their dynasty. Yes, the draft was filled with high school kids. Certainly Michael Jordan's return was memorable. But the NBA in 2001 will be remembered as the year that Allen Iverson won over America. White America. Suburban America. Corporate America.

How did he do it? Five years ago, Iverson was the poster boy for everything that was wrong with the NBA. A checkered past that included jail time. A kid, then another, out of wedlock. A defiant attitude. A marijuana arrest. A selfish game, with lots of style and very little substance. A knucklehead, as they say in the trade.

Without changing himself at all, Iverson changed how we all feel about him. By compelling us to watch, he made us look closer. And when we did, we saw things that we'd like to think we see in ourselves, our friends, our spouses, our children. Things like honesty and courage, determination and heart. Things you can't fake. Things that are genuine.

Five years. What took us so long?