The selection committee for the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team should be embarrassed for picking Allen Iverson.
Even Iverson’s coach, Larry Brown, who also is the Olympic team coach, is sick about the selection. Not coincidentally, Brown is considering his resignation as the 76ers’ coach. Brown is scheduled to meet with owner Ed Snider this week to discuss his future.
If Brown leaves–and Snider last week told Philadelphia media “if he’s not enthusiastic about coaching, I think that we have to move on”–the move could set off a chain reaction in NBA coaching jobs.
The Houston Rockets are interested in hiring either Brown or Jeff Van Gundy to replace Rudy Tomjanovich. Brown could return to the Clippers, perhaps as general manager, with old buddy John Calipari as his coach. And there always has been talk of Brown’s return to Denver, which certainly would move aside Jeff Bzdelik.
Mike Dunleavy, a former Rocket, also is a possibility in Houston, though he is linked to new Atlanta owner David McDavid. Brian Hill is said to be the leading candidate in New Orleans along with Tim Floyd.
Former Northwestern coach Kevin O’Neill is the front-runner in Toronto. Washington is said to be leaning toward New Jersey scouting director Ed Stefanski as general manager and assistant Eddie Jordan as coach. Paul Silas may end up in Cleveland. Don Nelson, the perfect coach for the personnel of the Mavericks, should be staying put.
As for Brown, he talks about leaving after every season. An annual $6.2 million contract would be difficult to give up. He has two seasons left, but teams never force Brown to stay because he always leaves his contract money on the table, unlike most coaches.
Brown said last month that he would have taken the North Carolina job if it were offered to him. But Iverson’s defiant behavior–and declining play–might be a signal that it’s a good time for Brown to move on.
Iverson remains among the league’s elite players, but many have long predicted an early decline to his career because of his diminutive size and the beating he takes in games. After scoring 55 points in the playoff opener, Iverson made just 39 percent of his shots in the 11 other games as his production declined constantly toward the end of games.
The bigger issue remains his attitude. He showed up almost an hour late for what turned out to be the 76ers’ elimination game, barely 30 minutes before game time. He regularly blows off practices or arrives late. He defies his teammates and coach. He is among the most uncooperative players with the media and public in the NBA.
Sure, he’s a tremendous talent. But is this kind of behavior the U.S. should reward with a cherished spot to represent the country? Forget the aberration of the U.S. loss last summer in the world championships. It was a badly coached team and poorly assembled with key players like Jason Kidd and Ray Allen pulling out late.
The team for the 2004 Games is loaded with the likes of Kidd, Allen, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Tim Duncan.
What kind of message is the Olympic committee sending to players who respect their teammates and coach and the game when they select Iverson? What kind of message is it sending to America?
It’s not about the tattoos or hairstyle, the arrests or the buddies getting shot at or arrested. It’s about Iverson showing up when he feels like it for crucial games, mocking practice, driving his coach out of town, defying the fans.
The Olympic selection committee members should be ashamed. America doesn’t need this.
You never know: Scottie Pippen told the Portland Tribune last week, “I think I am going to quit playing, really. It’s just something I have been thinking seriously about. It might be better for me to walk away now than in a year or two.”
Pippen also said he’d like to be the Blazers’ general manager and might play two more seasons in Portland if they offer him enough money. Pippen said he isn’t interested in playing for the Lakers and would rather stay in Portland if he plays.
“I don’t want to make unnecessary changes at this point in my career,” he said. “If I stay in the game as a player, it’s better for me to be here in Portland. I am not looking forward to testing the free-agent market.” Though Pippen did add he’s “not taking [the Lakers] out of the picture entirely.”
Pippen also said he might play with the Bulls if he were promised a front-office job after retirement.
“I am a competitor,” Pippen said. “Once I walk away from the game as a player, I would like a way to feel I can still compete even if I am not out there on the court.”
Pippen also was grateful the Blazers let go general manager Bob Whitsitt and even said he’d rather play for Jerry Krause. Said Pippen: “At least with Krause, I know that he would work his butt off to make sure that we would win. I might not like his [butt] at the end of the day, but I know he would work hard.”
Poll position: Yes, they were tired of him too. The Washington Post ran an Internet poll asking readers whether the Wizards are better off without Michael Jordan. With more than 68,000 responses, 46 percent said yes and 44 percent said no. Ten percent had no opinion.
Shop talk: The Pacers’ Al Harrington and Jamal Tinsley are there for the taking. So is Austin Croshere, but we’ve known that. Pacers President Donnie Walsh said he hasn’t done a good enough job of meshing his team’s talent and wants to make major changes.
“Sometimes, you’ve got to sit there and say, `I want to be mad at the coach, I want to be mad at the players, but the fact is, I’ve got to get mad at myself,'” Walsh said.
He also said “it’s time for [Jonathan Bender] to play” and that Tinsley needs to work on “his body, his shooting, his ability to get to the goal.”
Power play: The Lakers reportedly have their eye on Hornets free agent P.J. Brown and he may have his eye on them. With a true power forward, the Lakers would still be playing.
Said Brown: “I see Kevin Willis, who has been in the league for more than 17 years, giving it all he can give to try and win a championship. I see my guy Bruce Bowen, who played with me in Miami, and he’s so close to reaching the pinnacle of the profession. It really hurts to be on the sideline, not playing right now.”
He can count on that in New Orleans, which switches to the Western Conference after next season. Juwan Howard also is a possibility for the Lakers.
Draft doings: Toronto, with the fourth pick, and Miami, at No. 5, have talked about trading their picks. Said Miami’s Pat Riley: “I watched [the lottery] in my office and had my eyes closed the whole time. I heard our name at five. I’m just glad I wasn’t at seven or six.”
The Bulls are at No. 7. As for No. 5, Riley gave a little hint what he’ll do when he said, “Last year one of the best moves in the whole draft was when New York got Antonio McDyess [for the No. 7 pick].”
There already is talk Riley wants to deal for Atlanta’s Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
Backstage drama: The lottery drawing on Thursday had to have an eerie feeling for Memphis general manager Jerry West. There was Stu Jackson, the NBA executive who when he ran the Grizzlies made the trade with Detroit for Otis Thorpe that cost Memphis the No. 2 pick.
Sitting directly behind West was perhaps his best friend in the NBA, Sonics general manager Rick Sund, who was on the other side of the deal when he was the Pistons’ basketball chief.
Memphis could have become one of the top young teams in the league if it had gotten the pick but now is probably doomed to years of missing the playoffs.
