The 76ers' run to the 2001 NBA Finals capped off one of the most iconic seasons in the franchise's storied history. And standing at the forefront of it all was the duo of Allen Iverson and Larry Brown.
Philadelphia began the magical year with a 10-game win streak en route to a first-place finish in the East with a 56-26 record. Just how special was the season? Four 76ers took home end-of-season awards, including Iverson, who was named league MVP and Brown, who was named Coach of the Year.
The unique relationship between Brown and Iverson is explored in NBATV's upcoming documentary "Everything but the Chip," which takes a look at a special season that fell just three wins shy of an NBA title.
Can’t wait to see the incredible run in 2001. Everything but the Chip…Next Wed on @NBATV pic.twitter.com/X6ioREnktX
— Billy King (@bkdefend) May 26, 2023
The Sporting News takes a look back at the complex relationship between superstar and head coach, along with some of the moments and obstacles that tested — and strengthened — their bond.
Larry Brown and Allen Iverson's relationship, explained
Iverson got to Philadelphia first, as he was selected first overall by the 76ers in the 1996 NBA Draft. And while A.I. earned Rookie of the Year honors with averages of 23.5 points, 7.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds over 76 games, Philadelphia posted a 22-60 record and fired head coach Johnny Davis.
Enter Brown.
Just four days after Iverson was named Rookie of the Year, it was announced that the Sixers had hired Brown to a five-year contract.
To put the hire into context, Brown had over 30 years of coaching experience. He had already won collegiately at Kansas in 1988 then moved on to coach the Spurs, Clippers, and Pacers before taking the Sixers job in 1997.
Given Iverson's rapidly growing stardom and Brown's established excellence as a head coach, the two butted heads early and often during their partnership. Brown would comment on Iverson's discipline, passing (or lack thereof), shot selection, dress code, and tendency to be late for — or skip — practice.
In December 1999, Brown benched Iverson for the final 20 minutes of a game, and the feud spilled into the media.
The partnership also proved to be fruitful, as Brown led Philly to the playoffs in his second year at the helm, helping the franchise end a seven-year postseason drought.
It was in Brown's fourth year that he and Iverson were able to turn the corner, resulting in the team's impressive run to the Finals in 2001.
As Iverson said on the Geto Boys Reloaded podcast in March 2022, things changed when he gained an understanding of the ways in which Brown was trying to connect with him.
The change came in 2000, and I thought he was criticizing me, and I couldn't accept constructive criticism. When I started to realize he loved me and what what is best for me and the team, that is when I turned from Allen Iverson a good basketball player, to a Hall-of-Famer.
And while the two went head-to-head, there was never a lack of respect. Ahead of Iverson's enshrinement into the Hall of Fame, Brown spoke on how his star allowed him to grow as a coach.
"He's made me a better coach because of the relationship we had and the time we had together," Brown said of Iverson. "Because I got to coach him, it's made me a better person and showed me how to deal with kids in a different way."
Their NBA partnership may have ended in 2003, but Brown was one of the presenters on stage during Iverson's Hall of Fame induction in 2016.
