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Larry Brown's Quotes Regarding Nomination as 2003 USA Basketball Head Coach

  • Official Release | Sixers player reaction | Audio

    Jesse D Garrabrant NBAE/Getty Images
    “The Olympic Movement’s been a big part of my life. Like Tom (Jernstedt, President of USA Basketball) said, I did participate in 1964 for Mr. (Henry) Iba. I helped Coach (Dean) Smith and Mr. Iba in their reigns as Olympic coaches in qualifying. I was Coach (David) Gavitt’s assistant in 1980 that didn’t go, and then I had the opportunity to work with Rudy (Tomjanovich) in 2000. Those experiences were very special for me. I realize how much this game means to the people in our country. I’m aware that everybody looks to USA Basketball as the best, and I’m hopeful that I can be part of a great experience in 2003 and 2004 in Greece. But I don’t take this lightly. A lot of people have helped me get to this point, and I’m going to do everything I can to represent our country the way it’s supposed to be. And again, thanks.”

    On what the last few weeks have been like for him, with the Hall of Fame induction and now this:
    “It’s been pretty incredible. Neither one of these were expected. This game has been great to me. Certainly being inducted into the Hall of Fame was something I never anticipated, but I’m thrilled to be involved in. I think it goes without saying that I wouldn’t be there without so many people helping me. And the same thing holds true for this. When I played in ‘64, it was probably the highlight of my career as a player. Certainly to be part of this is something that I’ll look back on and feel very, very fortunate. I know a lot of people that have helped me are smiling right now.”

    On the challenge of the number of games in such a short time
    “Well just on my experience, I found out I was the qualifying coach the day before we actually went to practice, and the cooperation that we received from the players was incredible. And then I experienced the same thing working for Rudy. The guys that came and participated on the Olympic Team were committed to giving the best they could. They never shortchanged us one day in practice. They were unbelievably cooperative, and I think listening to Tom and Stu (Jackson, Chair of USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team Committee) and what they have planned in terms of the makeup of the team, we’ll have no problems there. You could always use more time, but I think we recognize that the game is different, and that we need to play more international competition with international rules and referees in order to prepare us, because it is a difficult game. It is much different than our game, but we have the best players. We have guys with great character in our league, and I think that they’ll represent our country well and do what’s necessary.”

    On the possibility of having Allen Iverson on the team
    “You know, again, I think Stu mentioned that there was a process going on where they’re identifying the best players, and they’re looking to make the team the best in terms of playing the right way. I’m sure Allen will get every consideration, especially the way he’s playing, the way he’s conducting himself. I’ve told him all along that the way he plays and the way he acts is going to determine whether he’ll have an opportunity or not. I think he’s doing a good job in that respect.”

    On the performance of the USA team this summer
    “Well you know, getting back to this summer, I just was a fan, and I watched. But we had a lot of problems with injuries, a lot of our guys were playing in front of crowds that were less than they expected. And being a member of the 2000 staff, I agree with what Stu said, this sport is so popular all over the world. The fact that we have so many players from foreign countries in our league shows that people have caught up to us. I think it’s going to take an effort on everybody’s part to just prepare ourselves to play in difficult surroundings against great competition, and to show everybody that if we play the right way, we play better basketball than anybody. But I believe, like Tom and Stu, that we have the best players, we do play the right way, and there will be an unbelievable commitment in 2003 and 2004 to get this process moving in the right direction. And just hearing some of the names of the people that are interested in representing our country excites me. I had a bunch of them in Puerto Rico, and I was involved with a bunch with Rudy in 2000. We simply had great guys representing our sport, and I’m sure that those guys will be committed to showing people that we are truly the best.”