“We might be talking about the greatest player who ever played” – Larry Brown said he could’ve made Allen Iverson the GOAT

Larry Brown and Allen Iverson did not have a perfect relationship during their time with the Philadelphia 76ers. Since parting ways with the organization, Brown has publicly reflected on how he could have contributed more to the explosive scorer’s development as a player.

Known for advocating playing “the right way,” Larry admittedly struggled to make the rebellious Iverson understand how he could truly reach his full potential. To this day, Brown still feels he had the chance to make A.I. arguably the greatest player of all time, but he failed.


larry-brown-and-allen-iverson© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports, © Joe Rondone/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK

“I was kinda relentless to think that if there was something I think you needed to work on. I wasn’t gonna let up,” Brown said on Everything But the Chip: The 2001 76ers documentary. “And that can be hard, but my frustration with Allen was I didn’t think he did all the things necessary to play at the level I thought he could have.”

“If I had done a better job of making Allen understand, then we might be talking about the greatest player who ever played the game,” he added.

Iverson just wanted to please Brown

In the same documentary, Iverson also voiced his true feelings about Brown. He suggested that their turbulent working relationship was mostly about miscommunication, brought about by their opposite personalities and approaches to the game.

Deep down, the 2001 NBA MVP wished he could’ve found a way to let Brown know how hard he pushed himself to “play the right way” back then.

“All I was trying to do was get coach (Larry Brown) to understand and believe that I was trying to play the right way,” the legendary guard said.

Brown and Iverson learned a lot from one another

Larry’s coaching philosophy emphasized discipline, hard work, and the importance of team dynamics. On the other hand, Iverson pushed against traditional boundaries. Though their contrasting styles often created friction, Larry acknowledged that it also gave them a unique opportunity for growth.

“There were things that he did that drove me crazy, off of the court,” Brown once said of coaching Iverson. “But there was never a lack of respect… It’s never easy for an unbelievable talent like Allen to play for someone like me. I think at the end of the day, we both realized how we both benefited from our relationship.”

In conclusion, Brown’s desire to have played a more significant role in Iverson’s career speaks volumes about his belief in his star player’s capabilities. Larry has coached a wide array of players, but his profound statement about A.I. implies that more guidance could have steered “The Answer” towards a different path, one that might have propelled him to become more than just a scorer and an influential NBA figure.