Allen Iverson said during his introductory news conference on Thursday that he wants to prove his critics wrong.

Iverson formally signed a one-year contract with the Grizzlies earlier this week.

"This year for me is so personal," Iverson said at the news conference.

"It's basically going to be my rookie season again. It hurts, but I turn the TV on, I read the paper, I listen to some of the things people say about me having the season that I had last year and me losing a step, things like that. They're trying to put me in a rocking chair already."

Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, told the Associated Press that the guard's contract has many team-related incentives.