Editing Allen Iverson (section)

====Early playoff exits and Larry Brown's departure (2001–2003)====
[[File:Iverson shoots.jpg|thumb|Iverson with the 76ers in 2003]]
Fresh off their trip to the NBA Finals, Iverson and the Sixers entered the 2001–2002 season with high expectations, but were plagued by injuries, and only able to muster a 43–39 record to barely get into the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2002.html |title=2001–02 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-date=December 15, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041215084930/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2002.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite playing in only 60 games that season and being hampered by injuries, Iverson averaged 31.4 points per game to earn his second consecutive scoring title. The 76ers lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs 3–2 in the five-game series. After the defeat, Brown criticized Iverson for missing team practices. Iverson responded by saying, "We sittin' here, I'm supposed to be a franchise player, and we in here talkin' about practice,"<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2002/05/09/iverson_transcript/
|title=Allen Iverson news conference transcript
|date=May 10, 2002
|publisher=CNNSI.com
|access-date=December 13, 2006
|archive-date=December 10, 2013
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210075601/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2002/05/09/iverson_transcript/
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> and went on a rant that included the word "practice" 22 times.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-07 |title=The little-known story behind Iverson's 'practice' rant |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29143112/the-little-known-story-allen-iverson-practice-rant |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> He repeatedly said "We talkin' about practice. Not a game."

The 2002–2003 season started off poorly for the Sixers, who had just traded defensive-standout [[Dikembe Mutombo]] to New Jersey, and saw a decrease in both offensive and defensive production from [[Aaron McKie]] and [[Eric Snow]], all three of whom were key components to their Finals appearance two years prior. Iverson would once again put up stellar scoring numbers (27.6 points per game) however, and the Sixers regrouped following the All-Star break to make the playoffs with a 48–34 record.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2003.html |title=2002–03 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-date=November 4, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041104214829/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2003.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They were able to defeat [[Baron Davis]] and the [[New Orleans Hornets]] in the opening round of the playoffs. Iverson later described Davis as the most difficult opposing point guard to defend in his career.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author =Allen Iverson |user=Sixers |number=588490173337440256 |date=April 15, 2015 |title=Baron Davis. #AskTheAnswer |access-date=April 16, 2015 }}</ref> In the six-game second round series, the 76ers were eliminated by the [[Detroit Pistons]].

Head Coach [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]] left the 76ers in 2003, following the playoff loss. After his departure from the 76ers, both he and Iverson indicated that the two were on good terms and genuinely fond of one another.<ref>{{cite web |author=Andy Friedlander |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sportsweek/20121109_Browns_relationship_with_Iverson__Answer_might_surprise_you.html |title=Brown's relationship with Iverson? Answer might surprise you |date=November 12, 2012 |publisher=Philly.com |access-date=March 30, 2013 |archive-date=November 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115073942/http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sportsweek/20121109_Browns_relationship_with_Iverson__Answer_might_surprise_you.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Iverson later reunited with Brown when Iverson became the co-captain of the [[2004 United States men's Olympic basketball team]]. In 2005, Iverson said that Brown was without a doubt "the best coach in the world".