After the 76ers were eliminated in the first round of the 2002 playoffs, Brown criticized Iverson for missing too many practices. Iverson strongly defended himself in a rambling rant that become a cult hit.

"I mean, listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we're talking about practice," Iverson said.

On Tuesday, Brown talked about himself and what he missed during his two years away from coaching.

"I used to worry that maybe I didn't prepare these guys for the things they might encounter for games," Brown said. "That was the hard part for me. But practice, practice. What are we talking about practice?"

The room erupted in laughter, but Brown was quick to praise Iverson, now with the Denver Nuggets.

"I love that kid, I do," Brown said. "Because every time he laced up his shoes he was trying to win a game."

Brown seemed eager to hold a practice right away, in hopes of getting the fourth-year Bobcats into the playoffs for the first time. And the Brown may have already found a new target for his needling with this roster.

"I saw Sean (May) when I walked in and Matt (Carroll)," Brown said. "And the kid with the long hair, I didn't know his name. He wasn't dressed like a basketball player."

That would be the shaggy-haired, thin-mustached Adam Morrison, who missed all of last season with a knee injury.

The player best equipped for Brown may be forward Nazr Mohammed. He played under Brown for three seasons in Philadelphia from 1998-01.

"He's one of the greatest coaches to coach in this league," Mohammed said. "It's going to be an honor to play for him again. ... Coach Brown coming in, it's going to make us stronger."

And that will come from practice.

"I do enjoy going to practice every day and teaching the things that I was taught," Brown said.