Still a Sixer

Brown confirms that Iverson won't be traded

Larry Brown is convinced that he and Allen Iverson can accomplish great things together. AP

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson doesn't have to worry about trade rumors. Larry Brown plans to keep the star guard in Philadelphia.

One day after Iverson expressed displeasure with Brown for indicating that he could be on the trading block, the 76ers coach said Wednesday that last year's NBA MVP isn't going anywhere.

"I told him, 'You can tell your daughter not to worry about it. Daddy's going to be living in Philadelphia,'" Brown said.

In a bizarre 30-minute news conference Tuesday, an emotional Iverson lashed out against questions about his practice habits, said he was bothered by criticism from Brown and hurt that his 7-year-old daughter, Tiaura, had to endure questions regarding his situation with the team.

"I'm the best player; I feel I'm the best player. I believe that. But franchise players don't go through this," Iverson said. "Franchise players' daughters don't have to go to school and hear, 'Is your daddy coming back?'; 'What's going on with your daddy and coach Brown?' She's seven years old, and that's what she's got to deal with. It hurt, because I know I'm better than that."

Who's the man? Click the image to launch the clip Allen Iverson thinks his play on the court is all that matters. Start Larry Brown thinks he can harness Iverson's talent. Start SI's Jack McCallum thinks Brown and the Sixers neeed Iverson to win a championship. Video Plus Visit Video Plus for all the latest video and audio.

Last Saturday, one day after the defending Eastern Conference champions were eliminated by Boston in the first round of the playoffs, Brown made it clear he wasn't happy with Iverson's work ethic. Iverson took it as a personal attack, and expressed his feelings in a profanity-laced rant. He even refused to stop the interview when a team spokeswoman gave him the chance.

"It seemed to me that was a young kid reaching out for help. His feelings were obviously hurt," Brown said. "I admire him, I love him personally, I love the way he competes and tries to win, but I've had issues with him as far as coming to practice and being on time and becoming a better player. I said all those things were in his control."

Brown met individually with the entire team except Iverson on Saturday. Later, the coach said he was "crushed" Iverson didn't speak to him. But along with general manager Billy King, they had a long meeting Tuesday in which Brown assured Iverson he wouldn't be traded.

"I know he wants to do what's right," Brown said. "I've been with him five years, and every day hasn't been great. But I've seen tremendous growth, I've seen him improve as a player and I've seen him accomplish a great deal and I'm hopeful with me being here I can continue to see him getting better."

Iverson has dealt with uncertainty before. Two summers ago, the Sixers completed a three-team, multiple-player deal that would have sent Iverson to Detroit, but the trade fell apart because former Sixers center Matt Geiger refused to waive a trade kicker in his contract that would've given him a 15 percent raise.

Scorned by the rumors, Iverson vowed he would be a team player on the court and a leader off it. For the most part, he fulfilled his promise, won the MVP award and helped the Sixers reach the NBA Finals for the first time in 18 years, before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.

But Iverson reverted to his old self this year. He missed several practices, sometimes using lame excuses. More than once, he didn't show up to practice because he said his son, Deuce, was sick. He sat out practice the day before Game 3 against the Celtics because of a cold.

In his tirade Tuesday, Iverson couldn't believe practice had become such an issue.

"I'm supposed to be the franchise player and we're in here talking about practice," Iverson said, becoming more incredulous each time he repeated the word. "Not a game, we're talking about practice. How silly is that?"

Brown, who joked that Iverson didn't come to practice as often as he said the word in his news conference, is convinced the three-time scoring champion will make changes.

"He's said 100 times that he's unselfish, that he wants to be the first guy to practice and the last guy to leave, that he wants to make his teammates better, that he wants to win a championship and I'm there to remind him of it," Brown said. "Nobody in my profession has had a challenge like this, and I don't look at that in a bad way."

 

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