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Sticking around Brown will continue coaching in Philadelphia
Updated: Saturday June 16, 2001 3:14 PM
PHILADELPHIA (CNNSI.com) -- The Sixers are out of the NBA Finals, but SI's Marty Burns reports they won't be saying farewell to head coach Larry Brown. Philadelphia GM Billy King said Friday night that, contrary to some media reports, Brown has no plans to step down and fully expects to return next season. "He's tired. But he'll be back," King said before Game 5 of the NBA Finals. "He wants to take a couple months off, but he's not going to step down." Recent reports have speculated that Brown, 60, might quit as head coach after the season. Friends said he was exhausted, and that he might want to spend more time with his family. When asked about the reports during the Finals, Brown didn't deny them, saying only that he would decide after the season. Brown was not available before the game to address King's comments, but earlier Friday he said: "I don't want to think about that. I'm just proud of this team this year. That's the thing. I've loved this experience, being in the Finals and seeing guys like Tyrone and Dikembe and George Lynch and all these guys participate in this and me being part of it. "I just want to enjoy this and I hope my team has the same kind of feeling. I'm not even concerned about anything but trying to win tonight's game." Brown is coaching his 18th NBA season and for the 29th year in a row, including stints in the ABA and college. He has three years remaining on his contract. The Sixers' head coach missed three games during an 0-4 road trip in March to be treated for acid reflux and a hernia. In December, he took a couple days off from practice, saying he just needed a break -- from himself, from basketball and from his team. After hearing the report concerning Brown's retirement, Sixers president Pat Croce said he expected him to return next year. "I think he just needs his batteries recharged," Croce said. "This isn't the time of year to talk about what he planned to do in the future, because he extended this year into June, which is great for us, but previous he had the Olympics. "I think he's just fatigued. He wants to leave his options open. He'll spend two months in Malibu this summer and come back ready to go."
The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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