PHILADELPHIA -- Trouble always seems to follow Allen Iverson, the NBA superstar who faces charges he forced his way into an apartment with a gun and threatened two men.

Allen Iverson chronology

February 1993 -- Arrested for fighting in a bowling alley in Hampton, Va. He spends four months in prison before then-Gov. Douglas Wilder grants him clemency. The Virginia Court of Appeals overturns the conviction in June 1995. March 1996 -- Selected to All-America team after sophomore season at Georgetown University. June 1996 -- Selected as No. 1 overall choice in NBA draft by Philadelphia 76ers. April 1997 -- Scored 50 points for his fourth consecutive game with at least 40, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's 37-year-old rookie record of three consecutive 40-point games. May 1997 -- Selected NBA rookie of the year. August 1997 -- Pleads no contest to gun charge after police near Richmond, Va., pull over a car, in which Iverson is a passenger, and find a gun belonging to Iverson and two marijuana cigarettes. Completes 100 hours of community service, two years of drug testing and three years' probation, after which his record is cleared. July 1998 -- Two of Iverson's friends in Virginia borrowed his car and were pulled over on drug charges. Iverson was not charged. July 2000 -- Promised to have more of a business-like attitude following a season that saw him fined more than 50 times for being late to practice and suspended one game for missing a shootaround. October 2000 -- Reprimanded by NBA commissioner David Stern for violent references and derogatory lyrics directed toward gays and women in his unreleased rap CD. May 2001 -- Named NBA MVP after leading the league in scoring and steals. June 2001 -- Led the 76ers to the NBA Finals for the first time in 18 years. They lose to Los Angeles Lakers in five games. August 2001 -- Married Tawanna Turner, longtime fiancee and the mother of his two children, Tiaura and Allen II. September 2001 -- Named America's best athlete by Time magazine. October 2001 -- Rashan R. Langeford, Iverson's close friend and a groomsman at his wedding, is shot to death in Newport News, Va. Iverson wears a black armband with Langeford's nickname, ``Ra,'' and taps it before every free throw. November 2001 -- Agreed to lifetime deal with Reebok, superseding 10-year, $50 million endorsement contract. May 2002 -- Held news conference to express displeasure about trade rumors, lashing out about criticism of his practice habits. The next day coach Larry Brown said Iverson will not be traded. July 2002 -- Charged with four felony counts and related offenses for allegedly forcing his way into his cousin's apartment with a gun and threatening two men. -- The Associated Press

He spent time in prison as a teenager and has been charged with gun offenses before. He often squabbles with Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown and made a rap CD in 2000 that used terms for women and gays that drew harsh criticism.

Through it all, he has survived, even thrived. With his bad-boy image and electrifying moves on the court, it's no surprise his jersey is the NBA's top seller.

Still, at times he presents himself as more of a family man who can behave and be a team player. At news conferences, he sometimes brings along one of his children.

An uncle, Stephen Iverson, said his famous nephew had been ''progressing so well'' since coming into the league in 1996 as the No. 1 overall choice of the Sixers.

''Just look at what's happened since he's got into the league. How he's changed. It's been like a stepping stone, going up and up, and these type of things just bring it to a standstill,'' Stephen Iverson said.

It's too soon to tell how the latest case will affect Allen Iverson's career on and off the court. If convicted, he could end up in prison and would be suspended by the league for at least 10 games.

But his main sponsor, Reebok, is standing by him, and with good reason. The footwear and apparel company gave Iverson a lifetime extension of a 10-year, $50 million endorsement deal last year.

While some experts believe the case could hurt Iverson's marketability, others said it might even help sales for Reebok.

''The bad-boy image, unfortunately right now, is what sells, and he's the best bad boy out there,'' said Alan Brown, president of Hollywood, Fla.-based Alan T. Brown Associates, a sports marketing firm.

Iverson, 27, is expected to surrender Tuesday morning to be charged with assault, criminal trespass, terrorist threats and gun offenses. Four of the counts are felonies, and Iverson faces up to 54 years in prison if convicted of all the charges.

In the meantime, Iverson is confined to the grounds of his $2.4 million suburban mansion.

Iverson and another uncle, Gregory Iverson, are accused of barging into cousin Shaun Bowman's apartment on the morning of July 3 as the Sixers' guard searched for his wife, Tawanna. Iverson is said to have thrown her out of their house naked during a dispute, according to a transcript of a 911 call.

Bowman's roommate, Charles Jones, was at home with another man and told police that a gun-toting Iverson and his uncle demanded to know the whereabouts of Tawanna and Bowman.

Iverson's lawyers declined comment Friday. Richard Sprague is the lead defense attorney in the case.

Other defense lawyers predicted Iverson would reject any offer of a plea bargain and take his chances at trial. They said the case was winnable and called Jones -- reportedly evicted from his apartment this week -- a weak witness.

''I think Iverson is going to beat the case,'' said Chris Warren, an attorney for convicted Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Merlino.

Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, Iverson would be automatically suspended for a minimum of 10 games if convicted of a ''violent felony.'' NBA commissioner David Stern could also take more drastic action.

The NBA planned to contact Iverson at some point to get his ''side of the story,'' league spokesman Tim Frank said.

While some NBA stars like Kobe Bryant do business with many companies, Iverson has only two endorsement deals -- the one with Reebok and one with Sega.

That's not likely to change anytime soon, said Bob Williams, president of Burns Sports & Celebrities Inc., an Evanston, Ill., company that pairs athletes with companies for commercials and other marketing.

''Most advertisers don't feel any different today because they had already checked him off their list as being too controversial,'' Williams said. ''But it hurts his chances with advertisers who are edgy and trendy and possibly contemplating his services.''

Still, Iverson paraphernalia was flying off the shelves as usual at Philadelphia sporting good stores. Iverson jerseys, bobblehead dolls, armbands, hats, pins, photos and other assorted knickknacks were still in demand at Team Sports Inc. in Center City, said Marc Gold, the store's co-owner.

''People don't think it's really that big of a deal. They think the media is making a lot bigger deal out of it than it really is,'' Gold said.

Reebok stock has fallen some 10 percent since Monday. The Iverson brand is expected to generate between $125 million and $150 million for Reebok this year, or 4 to 5 percent of total revenues.

''It is Allen's celebrity status, not the facts, that continues to fuel these proceedings,'' Reebok vice president Denise Kaigler said. ''We firmly believe that Allen will be vindicated.''

Brokerage house Merrill Lynch, meanwhile, sought to reassure jittery Reebok investors.

''We do not think there is serious risk of Iverson being kicked out of the NBA or missing next season entirely, the only negative scenarios we can think of,'' Merrill said in a report to investors.