Allen Iverson says LeBron James is his closest current NBA comparsion

Let's get one thing out of the way right at the top: we will never have another Allen Iverson.

He is an outlier, a weirdo. An insanely talented ballplayer kids wanted to be but couldn't pull off.

Iverson pushed the needle on an entire generation of ballplayers, mentally, physically, sartorially. He set off the wave for sports' contemporary mold-breakers, and trying to compare him to anyone is an exercise in futility.

Nonetheless, ESPN's Rachel Nichols asked the former Philadelphia 76er who in the game today who reminds him most of himself. His answer was surprising.

"LeBron," Iverson said. "LeBron ain't got none of my game. You know what I mean? But his heart is all mine."

This is probably a pretty good comparison.

James, while eternally guarded with his emotions, does exude a very palpable, Iverson-like rage on the floor, particularly when he feels he's being overlooked or challenged. Iverson similiarly came alive when the stakes were high and the entire franchise was squarely on his back.

Then again, LeBron's passions never seem to extend far beyond family or basketball. And he definitely hasn't expounded upon the worthlessness of practice with sublime eloquence.

Dan is on Twitter. Practice: still the worst.