Allen Iverson & the Battle for I-95: could it happen?

The rumor mill is turning quickly today with NBA-ophiles grasping at the thought of seeing former 76ers star Allen Iverson back on the court for the Battle for I-95 at the Palestra.

Iverson will reportedly be back in Philadelphia Saturday, hosting a Ciroc Vodka party at Vault nightclub. That could leave him slightly hungover but still in town to play in the Battle for I-95 Sunday. Iverson grew up in Virginia and played for Georgetown, making him geographically more fit to play on the star-studded DC-Baltimore team headed by Carmelo Anthony. But after spending a decade as the star guard for the 76ers, Philadelphians would surely welcome him to their team with open arms.

Philly sports blog The 700 Level has a full breakdown of the situation, but also provides this snapshot from twitter, in which Rahim Thompson, the organizer of Sunday's game, is asked about a possible appearance from AI. The 700 Level suggests it may just be a ploy to build hype for the game, which really can't support any more hype as it is.

My colleague Kevin Esteves spoke with Team Philly captain Hakim Warrick this week, and when asked about potential surprises (such as Kobe Bryant — who has already been all but ruled out) coming to aid the team, Warrick said, "Nah we tried to, but those guys got other obligations, so pretty much what you see is what you get."

Not good for those hoping to see a Kobe or an AI in the building Sunday, but also not a resounding no.

UPDATE: Per the 700 Level's post, Iverson's manager said he is not planning on playing. That doesn't rule out an appearance though.