ISTANBUL (AP):

Former NBA star Allen Iverson arrived in Istanbul yesterday to begin a stint with Turkish club Besiktas, promising to give fans "something they haven't seen before".

Dozens of fans greeted the 11-time All-Star at Ataturk Airport. Sporting a Besiktas jersey and a Philadelphia Phillies hat, Iverson waved at fans from inside his car before being driven to his hotel.

Iverson, who agreed to a US$4 million, two-year contract with Besiktas, is the Turkish league's biggest signing. He has called his move to the Istanbul club "a chance to get back on track with my basketball career" after no NBA team was willing to offer him a contract this season.

Many see his stint in Turkey as a test of his ability to revive his NBA career because teams are likely to monitor Iverson's performance and behaviour at Besiktas. The guard has said he still believes he can play in the NBA and hopes his performance in Europe will lead to another chance next season.

His career has been troubled by numerous run-ins with coaches and team officials. HeÕs also had several legal problems that landed him on probation.

Iverson is expected to make his debut with Besiktas on November 13 when the team plays Oyak Renault at its home arena that seats about 4,500 fans. The club hasn't won the Turkish league since 1975.

"They were great," Iverson told NTV sports channel of the cheering Besiktas fans who welcomed him at the airport, adding that "the most important thing is to be accepted, to be wanted and to be appreciated."

Iverson urged fans to come out and support the team. The player also said he would be "interacting" with the fans as much as possible.