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All patched up? Iverson, Brown reconcile after talk of a trade
Posted: Monday December 20, 1999 03:34 PM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson said Monday that he said some things he didn't mean after being benched Saturday and he wants to remain in Philadelphia. "I love Philadelphia. I love playing here. I love the fans. I want to finish my career here," Iverson said after meeting with coach Larry Brown and team owner Pat Croce for more than an hour during today's practice. In their ugliest squabble yet, Iverson and Brown were not talking Sunday after the mercurial star complained about being benched and suggested for the first time that the Sixers trade him. "The situation is resolved. All the things he wants, I want," Brown said. "I understand where he's coming from a lot more than ever before. I feel confident things will be much better for him. He felt by not playing him I was disrespecting him and I was pointing the finger at him. I feel bad about that." Iverson lashed out at his coach Saturday night after being benched with two other starters for the final 20 minutes of Philadelphia's 104-91 loss at Detroit. "For some reason, my style doesn't fit this team anymore," Iverson said Saturday. "If that's the way it is, something needs to happen. Something's got to give. "If I'm hurting this team, I need to get out of here. I don't like what is going on. When I get back to Philly, I'll let that be known. However you look at it, I'm going to be the bad guy, but I'll deal with it. "I've never been done like that ever in my career." Only four players attended Brown's optional practice Sunday: Tyrone Hill, George Lynch, Eric Snow and rookie Todd MacCulloch. Brown challenged Iverson to meet with him if he meant what he said. "My door is always open," Brown said Sunday. "I'm here today. If it's such a pressing, urgent matter, I'm accessible." Iverson didn't take Brown up on his offer Sunday, but he discussed the matter with general manager Billy King. "It will stay between us what we talked about," King said. "We've been able to work out other problems, and I don't see why we won't be able to work this one out." Brown on Sunday dismissed Iverson's comments, saying they came in the heat of the moment. Iverson anticipated Brown's reaction, saying Saturday night, "I mean every word I'm saying. Every single word." Brown benched Iverson and the other starters with Philadelphia trailing 73-50 with 8:15 left in the third quarter. Lynch and Hill returned in the fourth quarter, but Iverson, Snow and Theo Ratliff stayed on the bench. The Sixers got within seven points with 3:37 left, playing the unselfish style Brown prefers. "In that 16 or 18 minutes, we played the way we've been playing for a three- or four-week period," Brown said. "It was amazing." The Sixers were 6-4 when Iverson was out with a broken thumb. They are 7-9 with him in the lineup. Iverson, who gets upset when he sits out a minute or two, wore a towel over his head and a disgusted look while he watched from the bench. He made no effort to hide his feelings afterward. "I don't know nothing about basketball, so I don't know what happened," Iverson said. "I guess 95 percent of it is probably me." Iverson and Brown have disagreed on everything from shot selection to the dress code since Brown was hired for the 1997-98 season. Rumors swirled in Brown's first season that the coach wanted to deal Iverson for Damon Stoudamire. Last January, Iverson signed a $70.9 million, six-year contract. Brown's relationship with Iverson took a hit last season when he sent Iverson back to the bench after the star player cursed at him. The two patched up their differences, and Iverson won the NBA scoring title and led the Sixers to the playoffs for the first time since 1991. This season, Iverson expressed disappointment with Brown's decision to use him as a point guard at times so second-year pro Larry Hughes could play in the backcourt with him. As Brown grew impatient with Hughes' work ethic and defense, the Sixers began entertaining offers for the 20-year-old player. This did not sit well with Iverson, who has befriended Hughes on and off the court. "The two best parts of our team are coach Brown and Allen," MacCulloch said. "Things get said in the heat of the moment, and I hope that's all it is."
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