Iverson sits out Grizzlies’ season opener with hamstring injury

Iverson sits out Grizzlies’ season opener

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies will have to wait a while longer for the debut of veteran guard Allen Iverson.

Iverson, the Grizzlies’ highly publicized free-agent signing, was listed as inactive Wednesday night for the season opener against his former team, the Detroit Pistons.

Iverson is still recovering from a partially torn left hamstring he sustained early in the preseason. When an MRI revealed the tear on Oct. 7, the initial scheduled return was Wednesday’s opening night.

But Iverson has been unable to practice while rehabilitating the injury and was not game ready.

“He’s starting to work with us in a non-contact aspect, so that’s a positive,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. “That makes me feel good that it won’t be long.”

Iverson, who is entering his 14th season, signed with the Grizzlies on Sept. 10. The four-time NBA scoring champ is the biggest name ever to join the franchise, and his arrival has created a buzz for the team and the city.

The signing also raised questions regarding who will start. Mike Conley, the Grizzlies’ first-round draft choice in 2007, is the incumbent at the point, but Iverson balked at coming off the bench last season in Detroit.

With Iverson on the shelf, Conley was expected to start against the Pistons, while Marcus Williams, an offseason signee who played nine games last season with Golden State, backed up Conley.