ISTANBUL—You would think, being in Turkey, that Allen Iverson has brought basketball to the masses.

That he has been welcomed by millions, been embraced by a star-starved Istanbul as the star-crossed superstar that he once was—and hopes to one day become again.

Yet, on game night inside BJK Akatlar Arena—home court of Iverson’s new team, the Besiktas Cola Turka Black Eagles—the arena seats 3,200 in a city of about 13 million. And the seats aren’t full.

Iverson is not a sensation here, but rather an exciting curiosity for small pockets of basketball fans, playing for a club that doesn’t even compete in Euroleague, Europe’s most prestigious.

The 76ers’ former all-everything guard is broke—by all accounts except his own—and playing in Istanbul for a number of reasons, none of which is to become an ambassador for Turkey’s solid, but often overlooked, professional league.

In early November, Iverson signed a two-year, $4 million contract with Besiktas, then missed his original flight to Istanbul, got on a plane two days later, and scored 15 points in his Besiktas debut on Tuesday.

On Sunday, Besiktas lost 74-67 to crosstown rival Fenerbahce Ulker.

Historic gathering sites such as the Blue Mosque, Spice Market, and Grand Bazaar are all about a half-court heave in any direction. The streets are cobblestoned, the newspapers filled with soccer and the restaurants packed.

It’s Istanbul’s tourist district, where the waiters know English and the cabbies know every switchback in every road.

No one knows Iverson. Not one.

A waiter, flipping through pictures on his touch-screen phone and singing Usher, tilts his head when asked about Iverson.

“Where’s that?” he finally asks, more curious than confused, as if “Allen Iverson” is a new nightclub he’d like to check out.

Never mind.

“In that area, they may not know (who Iverson is),” said Ismail Senol, an announcer for NTV Sport, which broadcasts Turkish Basketball League games. “It’s a financial thing. In rich areas, they know Allen Iverson because NBA TV, they have to pay for it and then are interested in it.”

Maybe Lynn Greer can explain. The former Temple University star is now a point guard for Fenerbahce, the team that beat Besiktas.

“Soccer is way up here.” Greer said, raising his hand high. “It’s unbelievable. Last season, our soccer team used to have 55,000 at their games and then at the basketball games, we’d get like 2,000.”

Iverson, the former NBA MVP — who has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies — has been reluctant to speak publicly about his career.

But at a news conference held in New York last month, Iverson said: “It’s not a problem, it’s not a problem—money. Obviously if it was about money, I would jump out there and say, ‘You want me to come off the bench? How much money are you paying?’ It wouldn’t be a big deal. It’s not about money or anything like that.”

A member of one NBA front office, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that prior to last season, a member of Iverson’s family called to inquire about a contract for Iverson, explaining that he owed someone money and would be unable to pay without a contract.

During his NBA career, including his lucrative deal with Reebok, Iverson made more than $100 million.

Besiktas teammate Mire Chatman was surprised of Iverson’s latest signing.

“I was a big fan of his. He paved the way for a lot of scoring point guards. Now that he’s here, I just want to help him adjust to the European basketball.”

Besiktas coach Burak Biyiktay said he is “very happy” with Iverson.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

“We have rules,” Biyiktay said. “I’m not a hard guy; I’m an easy guy. I negotiate with guys. I want him to be in the practice, do your practice, and every time I will be behind him for playing good basketball.”

Iverson lives close to the arena, less than a half-hour away. His family has not yet come to Istanbul, but they are expected to join him soon. Those associated with Besiktas say this will help him better adjust.

“When he came to first practice, he couldn’t make even one point the whole practice,” Biyiktay said. “He shot the ball — bonk, bonk, bonk. And now he’s starting to make the shots. I think in one month, he will be better.”