Inside the NBA

No Simple Answer  

Allen Iverson's Olympic dreams may be Larry Brown's nightmare

By Ian Thomsen

Allen Iverson wants to represent his country at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, saying of his possible exclusion from the U.S. team, "Anyone in their right mind who has seen me play for seven years knows that wouldn't be fair." As 76ers coach, Larry Brown has had a front-row seat for six of those years; as 2004 Olympic coach, he'll have to decide how vigorously to lobby for the star who has battled so hard for him -- and against him.

The electrifying Iverson should wrap up a spot on the U.S. team if Brown stumps for him. John W. McDonough

Iverson knows that Brown is not a voting member of the 12-person USA Basketball selection committee -- and that Sixers G.M. Billy King is. Brown has told the committee that Iverson would be a worthy addition to the team, but he also made clear that USA Basketball must explain to Iverson in detail the obligations involved. Players must block out 21 to 25 days this August for the regional Olympic qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico, where the U.S. will compete with nine other teams for three spots in Athens. In the summer of '04 players will also be tied up for five weeks, between an extended training camp, exhibition games in Europe and the Olympic tournament. And mainly for security reasons, the U.S. team will be staying in the Olympic Village, where no entourages are allowed.

NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik told the Philadelphia Daily News that Iverson didn't help his candidacy by withdrawing from the world championship team last summer, citing the death of a friend, Ra Langford, who had been fatally shot almost a year earlier. But while the committee will be concerned about Iverson's controversial image, it will be hard to ignore his explosiveness on the court, especially coming off the bench.

So far Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Steve Francis, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady and Gary Payton have expressed interest in representing the U.S. in Athens, and Allen, Bryant and Kidd are expected to be among the first half-dozen players that the selection committee will announce, perhaps by All-Star weekend. That would leave two spots for guards, and not much playing time; when Brown coached the Olympic qualifying team at Puerto Rico in 1999, he started a backcourt of Kidd and Payton for all 10 games. In the end the Answer may decide that the trek isn't worth it, but if he isn't at least invited, the 76ers fear that his displeasure may make his already charged relationship with Brown more difficult.

Issue date: January 13, 2003

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