Iverson trying to fit in with 76ers ... even at practice

Allen Iverson wasn't required to attend every practice during his stint with Denver, an arrangement that stressed mutual respect between the superstar and the franchise.

The same setup doesn't appear to exist, at least currently, for Iverson's second stint in Philadelphia.

The guy who made "We're talking about practice?" a national catchphrase is expected to live up to the same rules as the rest of his new teammates.

"He's a member of the team," Philadelphia general manager Ed Stefanski told NBA.com Sunday after Iverson's first full practice with the 76ers. "The same things we expect of every other player, we expect of A.I."

Iverson, 34, is scheduled to start in his reincarnated Philly debut Monday night (NBA TV, 7 p.m. ET) against Denver. The former MVP joked at his signing that the 76ers' list of concerns should have been as thick as a phonebook.

Stefanski conducted the background check, but hasn't torn a page out of the Nuggets' playbook. Iverson had an understanding in Denver that allowed him to skip practices at his convenience, league sources told NBA.com, but this wasn't done to acquiesce to his whims.

When Iverson needed a day off, he took it. No questions asked. Denver's front office, along with coach George Karl, felt the plan was one way to keep the veteran -- known for playing through injuries -- in shape physically, as well as mentally.

After a long road trip, for example, Iverson might come off the team plane and tell the coaching staff, "It ain't happening tomorrow," even if the Nuggets had a scheduled workout. He wasn't allowed to skip any team functions without informing management.

On the flip side, Karl had the right to make certain practices mandatory. If the Nuggets were in the midst of three or four days off and Karl wanted the full team together, Iverson had to attend. As long as Iverson didn't embarrass the organization with a non-excused no-show, the arrangement remained intact.

According to sources, Iverson never abused the pact and was a model citizen during his nearly two years in Denver. Having a veteran coach able to understand and massage egos, plus a front office that laid down the ground rules at the start, made the deal work.

Iverson didn't seem to have either of those during his short stays with the Pistons and Grizzlies. With those franchises, an apparent lack of communication helped doom both relationships. Iverson, no doubt, played a part in the problem, which is why Stefanski did his homework before signing off on the Sixers' reunion.

Stefanski, however, said he was not aware of Iverson's practice setup in Denver. When asked if such an arrangement may exist now or in the future with the Sixers, Stefanski politely declined comment. He added that "whatever any other organization does is their right."

Iverson has acknowledged his off-court baggage and how his difficulty with coming off the bench led to the Memphis divorce last month. But he also maintains that he's willing to do what's needed if the message is communicated.

"Give me an assignment," Iverson told John Thompson in an interview with NBA TV. "Tell me what you want me to do out on the basketball court to help us win and that's what I can do."

Perks are not unique in sports for certain vets. Pitchers such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens didn't travel with their teams on select road trips when they weren't scheduled to start. Michael Jordan had his own dressing room with the Bulls. Brett Favre does whatever he wants and is beloved.

After a rude awakening as a free agent this past summer and his short-lived retirement, Iverson isn't in the position to ask for or be offered any concessions. The situation was different with the Nuggets, as Iverson was a franchise cornerstone along with Carmelo Anthony.

This Iverson is trying to fit in. Practice is a good place to start.

Art Garcia has covered the NBA since 1999. You can e-mail him here and follow him on twitter.

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