Sixers Suspend Iverson

Tension escalated between Allen Iverson and Philadelphia 76ers management when he was suspended for at least one game for missing the team's shootaround Thursday morning.

The NBA scoring leader sat out Thursday night's 92-77 loss to the Miami Heat, and he was angry afterward.

"I felt I had a better relationship with this organization," Iverson said. "I don't think this is fair at all."

Philadelphia owner Pat Croce said the suspension will likely be for just one game, but coach Larry Brown was more vague.

"He missed practice today, but there's a lot more to it," Brown said. "I've let it go too far. It's just the culmination of a lot of things."

Thursday's game was important for the 76ers, who fell 5@1/2 games behind the first-place Heat in the Atlantic Division. Philadelphia is at home against Utah on Friday.

Iverson, 24, has clashed previously with Brown. Croce said the All-Star guard missed practices a couple of weeks ago, but the problem was temporarily resolved after a meeting with Brown.

According to general manager Billy King, Iverson phoned the team trainer Thursday morning to say he had a headache and wouldn't be at the 11 a.m. shootaround. King called Iverson's hotel room shortly thereafter, but there was no answer.

King, who finally reached Iverson in his room after the workout, said a headache wasn't an adequate excuse.

"I told them I couldn't be at practice because I wasn't feeling well," Iverson said. "I guess that wasn't enough. I've been here four years. They know who I am as a competitor, so don't question my heart."

Iverson said that after calling the trainer, he took two Advil and went back to sleep. He became agitated when asked if he didn't feel well because he had been out late on trendy South Beach night before.

"You think I'm going to come to Miami from freezing Philly and not go out?" he said. "I know how to take care of my body. I'm not a little kid. I go out and come in when I want to."

Croce said speculation that Iverson was out late partying wasn't an issue.

"I don't know and I don't care," Croce said. "I care about team practice and team play. I'm not his babysitter."

Iverson will lose one-82nd of his salary for each game he's suspended. His six-year, $70.9 million contract averages about $144,000 per game.

Brown suspended Iverson for one game three years ago for missing a practice in New York. In December, Iverson lashed out at Brown after being benched for the final 20 minutes of a loss at Detroit. Iverson said then he should be traded if Brown was unhappy wit him.

Croce said his reaction to the latest situation was "disappointment, frustration, hurt. Allen knows we're counting on him, and you can't miss work. If you miss work, you don't get paid and you don't play."

Iverson met with King and Croce before the game. Croce said Iverson expressed regret about the situation and understood the reasons for the suspension.

Croce said what he wants from Iverson is "a commitment to this team, this city, this franchise that he'll go out and kill it every day all the way through the playoffs."

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