PHILADELPHIA -- Larry Brown got a typical Philly welcome
Wednesday night.
The Hall of Fame coach was booed loudly by 76ers fans in his
first game back in Philadelphia after leaving to coach the Detroit
Pistons last spring.
Brown stood stoically in front of the Pistons' bench while fans
yelled a derisive chant shortly before tipoff in the 76ers' 90-86
victory. One fan sitting near the Pistons' bench screamed, "You
quitter." Others held signs, including one that read, "Our coach
never quits. Only our former coach does."
Brown spent six often-turbulent seasons in Philadelphia, helping
rebuild a struggling franchise. He often clashed with Sixers star
Allen Iverson during his tenure with the team, and several times
threatened to quit because the two couldn't get along. But both
insist they've mended their relationship.
Right before he ran out to center court, Iverson jogged over to
the Pistons bench and hugged Brown, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Sixers center Derrick Coleman and guard Eric Snow also greeted
their former coach with hugs.
Fans, though, haven't forgiven Brown for leaving.
"He deserted us. He's a traitor," said season ticket-holder
John Clifton. "He couldn't win here so he went to a better team."
The Pistons beat the Sixers in six games in the Eastern
Conference semifinals last season, before losing to New Jersey in
the conference finals. Despite consecutive 50-win seasons, Pistons
general manager Joe Dumars fired Rick Carlisle and hired Brown.
Brown expected a hostile greeting from the fans, and tried to
convince his wife and children to stay in their suburban
Philadelphia home rather than attend the game.
"The passion and support I had from these people the six years
I was coaching was very special," Brown said before the game.
"Unfortunately my wife and kids will hear junk because of what you
people write."
One of basketball's most well-traveled coaches, Brown spent more
seasons with the Sixers than any other team in his 32-year coaching
career. He led them to the playoffs five straight seasons,
including the 2001 NBA Finals, and coached the U.S. men's national
team, which included Iverson, last summer at an Olympic qualifying
tournament in Puerto Rico.
"I left because I didn't think I would make a difference,"
Brown said. "I've always felt that if I wasn't doing the job I was
supposed to do, it's time to move on."
Brown had two years left in his contract that paid him $6
million per season, but the Sixers released him from a contractual
clause that prohibited him from coaching another NBA team if he
left Philadelphia prematurely.
He said he hadn't decided to leave until the last game of the
season, a loss to the Pistons in Game 6. Brown didn't clarify his
comment, but it's possible the fact Iverson was late for the game
played a role in his decision. Iverson arrived at the arena 30
minutes before tipoff, blaming his lateness on a flat tire.
Brown's biggest problem with Iverson during his time here
concerned the former MVP's practice habits. Iverson often arrived
late for practices and missed several practices for various
excuses. Brown also harped on Iverson for taking too many shots and
playing selfishly at times.
"I didn't treat everybody the right way. That's the bottom
line," Brown said. "They treated me fairly. I didn't give enough
back. I was unfair to Allen and some of the other guys."