2000-2001 Season

Wait Til Next Year

"This is the most remarkable year I’ve ever experienced. I don’t think I’ve ever been more in awe of a group than I am of these guys."
— Larry Brown after the Finals, 6/15/01.

"The thing about us is we're just going to go out and compete and hope people step up and help the little guy. Nobody was crazy to pick the Lakers. But our guys try hard. The bottom line is, we know you have to play the game. This is unexpected but kind of neat."
— Larry Brown after Game 1, 6/6/01.

"We didn't come to LA just to compete and play hard. We came to win. It may be hard for some people to accept, but that's life."
— Allen Iverson after Game 1, 6/6/01.

"I think when you work hard, good things happen. Obviously so because we're going to the Finals."
— Allen Iverson, 6/3/01.

"He had a great game. He led his team to the Finals. We've talked about the Western Conference being so dominant, but Philadelphia has a chance to bring the trophy home to the Eastern Conference, and I'm supporting them the entire way."
— Ray Allen, on Allen Iverson, 6/3/01.

"I couldn't have scripted it any better to see how [Allen] has grown as a person. Forget about the basketball. We all knew he had great talent. He's just developed so much as a human being and a teammate. His performances have been incredible. I can't imagine any player having a better year or a bigger impact on a team or a city.''
— Larry Brown, on Allen Iverson, 6/3/01.

"They are battered and bloodied, but the Sixers have the one intangible that will always keep them in a game: a tremendous will to win by any means necessary."
— Jerry Bembry, ESPN Magazine, 5/29/01.

"This is one of the greatest feelings in my life. For us to win this game, for my teammates to come through the way that they did, this is truly a team. This is the first team I've ever played on in my life."
— Allen Iverson, 5/20/01.

"If I win, it will be a great honor. It won't ever mean as much as an NBA championship, but it will mean a lot, just because of all the people in my family, my friends, my teammates and the Sixers' organization who have stood by me and supported me through all the hard times."
— Allen Iverson, as reported 5/15/01.

"This is so special. I wouldn't trade this feeling for anything. We've struggled so much with this one team. It just feels so good to know that I'm a part of a team that finally beat Indiana."
— Allen Iverson, 5/2/01.

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"A championship, that's what I'm expecting. Nothing less. I know people might think it's crazy for me to say that, because we haven't been out of the second round the last two years. But just knowing my teammates, knowing what they expect out of this season, knowing how hard they worked, along with myself and the coaching staff, to get to where we're at right now, we can't settle for anything less."
— Allen Iverson, 4/19/01.

On March 30, the Sixers retired number 34. Barkley's number joins Hal Greer, Wilt, Billy C, Bobby Jones, Dr. J, and Mo Cheeks (and announcer Dave Zinkoff) and is now hanging from the rafters. It was a great ceremony, with Moses, G Man and Ricky Mahorn on hand too.

"They’ve beaten us three straight times. That’s where we are. We’re looking up at them, as is everybody in the Eastern Conference."
— Miami Heat coach Pat Riley, 2/28/01.

"You have a chance at the ring, you pull the trigger."
— ESPN's David Aldridge, 2/23/01.

"I had goose bumps so big, you wouldn't believe it."
— Allen Iverson, on the fans' cheering their MVP, 2/14/01.

"Everybody was saying we couldn't win because of our size. It's not about size, it's about the size of your heart."
— Allen Iverson, All-Star MVP, 2/11/01.

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"Have you ever seen Allen drive? Boy, are we in trouble." — Larry Brown, joking, when told that Aaron McKie couldn't pick up Iverson and that Iverson would have to drive himself to the game in the snowstorm on 2/5/01.

"For him (Larry Brown) to say that, that's the most important thing. It's real special when the guy helping you become an NBA caliber player says that you are playing like an MVP. Without Coach Brown, people wouldn't be talking about Allen Iverson for MVP."
— Allen Iverson, 1/15/01.

"I can take a punch better."
— Larry Brown, upon being told that Allen Iverson said Brown better get out of the way (unlike Jeff Van Gundy) if Iverson ever gets into a fight. 1/15/01.

News Alert! Barkley's number and jersey to be retired at the March 30 game vs. Golden State!

"I was trying to get him 60. It was like he was playing H-O-R-S-E out there."
— Aaron McKie on Allen Iverson's 54 point game against the Cleveland Cavs, 1/6/01.

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"People can't take away the stuff coach is doing. Coach is coaching big-time," Iverson said. "We haven't been in a lot of blowout games. We've been in close games where plays matter and key calls matter at the end of the game. He's been making big calls."
— Allen Iverson on Larry Brown, 11/15/00.

"Give him credit: Iverson, hurt all winter by a bad rap and later by bad rap, has shown his teammates and his coach a side never before consistently seen - maturity. If Iverson's leadership and show of responsibility throughout the preseason continues in the regular season and beyond, the Eastern Conference may discover that the trade that eventually defines the competition within is the one the Sixers never made involving Iverson."
— Claire Smith, Phila Inquirer, 11/1/00.

"I never heard him sing. If it doesn’t affect the way he plays, it’s OK. If it gets him to bed early, I’ll be happy."
— Larry Brown on Allen Iverson's rap album, 10/2/00.

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	Eastern Champs! 4 awards for this team: Larry Brown: Coach of the Year! The Answer is the MVP! Aaron McKie: 6th Man of the Year! Deke: Defensive Player of the Year! view our Sixers' animated collage david vs. goliath the walking wounded: sixers' fife and drum The Legend of Eric Snow finals preview: Lakers-Sixers! Marty meets the World! Sir Charles picture at retirement ceremony Check out Larry and Allen at All-Star Weekend. official 76ers site	Three Games Short of Glory!
		Wait Til Next Year "This is the most remarkable year I’ve ever experienced. I don’t think I’ve ever been more in awe of a group than I am of these guys." — Larry Brown after the Finals, 6/15/01. "The thing about us is we're just going to go out and compete and hope people step up and help the little guy. Nobody was crazy to pick the Lakers. But our guys try hard. The bottom line is, we know you have to play the game. This is unexpected but kind of neat." — Larry Brown after Game 1, 6/6/01. "We didn't come to LA just to compete and play hard. We came to win. It may be hard for some people to accept, but that's life." — Allen Iverson after Game 1, 6/6/01. "I think when you work hard, good things happen. Obviously so because we're going to the Finals." — Allen Iverson, 6/3/01. "He had a great game. He led his team to the Finals. We've talked about the Western Conference being so dominant, but Philadelphia has a chance to bring the trophy home to the Eastern Conference, and I'm supporting them the entire way." — Ray Allen, on Allen Iverson, 6/3/01. "I couldn't have scripted it any better to see how [Allen] has grown as a person. Forget about the basketball. We all knew he had great talent. He's just developed so much as a human being and a teammate. His performances have been incredible. I can't imagine any player having a better year or a bigger impact on a team or a city.'' — Larry Brown, on Allen Iverson, 6/3/01. "They are battered and bloodied, but the Sixers have the one intangible that will always keep them in a game: a tremendous will to win by any means necessary." — Jerry Bembry, ESPN Magazine, 5/29/01. "This is one of the greatest feelings in my life. For us to win this game, for my teammates to come through the way that they did, this is truly a team. This is the first team I've ever played on in my life." — Allen Iverson, 5/20/01. "If I win, it will be a great honor. It won't ever mean as much as an NBA championship, but it will mean a lot, just because of all the people in my family, my friends, my teammates and the Sixers' organization who have stood by me and supported me through all the hard times." — Allen Iverson, as reported 5/15/01. "This is so special. I wouldn't trade this feeling for anything. We've struggled so much with this one team. It just feels so good to know that I'm a part of a team that finally beat Indiana." — Allen Iverson, 5/2/01. back to top "A championship, that's what I'm expecting. Nothing less. I know people might think it's crazy for me to say that, because we haven't been out of the second round the last two years. But just knowing my teammates, knowing what they expect out of this season, knowing how hard they worked, along with myself and the coaching staff, to get to where we're at right now, we can't settle for anything less." — Allen Iverson, 4/19/01. On March 30, the Sixers retired number 34. Barkley's number joins Hal Greer, Wilt, Billy C, Bobby Jones, Dr. J, and Mo Cheeks (and announcer Dave Zinkoff) and is now hanging from the rafters. It was a great ceremony, with Moses, G Man and Ricky Mahorn on hand too. "They’ve beaten us three straight times. That’s where we are. We’re looking up at them, as is everybody in the Eastern Conference." — Miami Heat coach Pat Riley, 2/28/01. "You have a chance at the ring, you pull the trigger." — ESPN's David Aldridge, 2/23/01. "I had goose bumps so big, you wouldn't believe it." — Allen Iverson, on the fans' cheering their MVP, 2/14/01. "Everybody was saying we couldn't win because of our size. It's not about size, it's about the size of your heart." — Allen Iverson, All-Star MVP, 2/11/01. back to top "Have you ever seen Allen drive? Boy, are we in trouble." — Larry Brown, joking, when told that Aaron McKie couldn't pick up Iverson and that Iverson would have to drive himself to the game in the snowstorm on 2/5/01. "For him (Larry Brown) to say that, that's the most important thing. It's real special when the guy helping you become an NBA caliber player says that you are playing like an MVP. Without Coach Brown, people wouldn't be talking about Allen Iverson for MVP." — Allen Iverson, 1/15/01. "I can take a punch better." — Larry Brown, upon being told that Allen Iverson said Brown better get out of the way (unlike Jeff Van Gundy) if Iverson ever gets into a fight. 1/15/01. News Alert! Barkley's number and jersey to be retired at the March 30 game vs. Golden State! "I was trying to get him 60. It was like he was playing H-O-R-S-E out there." — Aaron McKie on Allen Iverson's 54 point game against the Cleveland Cavs, 1/6/01. back to top "People can't take away the stuff coach is doing. Coach is coaching big-time," Iverson said. "We haven't been in a lot of blowout games. We've been in close games where plays matter and key calls matter at the end of the game. He's been making big calls." — Allen Iverson on Larry Brown, 11/15/00. "Give him credit: Iverson, hurt all winter by a bad rap and later by bad rap, has shown his teammates and his coach a side never before consistently seen - maturity. If Iverson's leadership and show of responsibility throughout the preseason continues in the regular season and beyond, the Eastern Conference may discover that the trade that eventually defines the competition within is the one the Sixers never made involving Iverson." — Claire Smith, Phila Inquirer, 11/1/00. "I never heard him sing. If it doesn’t affect the way he plays, it’s OK. If it gets him to bed early, I’ll be happy." — Larry Brown on Allen Iverson's rap album, 10/2/00. back to top