The Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown was booed loudly on Wednesday by 76ers fans in his first game back in Philadelphia after leaving to coach the Detroit Pistons last spring.

Brown stood stoically in front of the Pistons bench while fans yelled a derisive chant shortly before tipoff. One fan sitting near the Pistons bench screamed, "You quitter." Others held signs, including one that read, "Our coach never quits. Only our former coach does."

Brown spent six often-turbulent seasons in Philadelphia, helping rebuild a struggling franchise. He often clashed with Sixers star Allen Iverson during his tenure with the team, and several times threatened to quit because the two couldn't get along. But both insist they've mended their relationship.

Right before he ran out to center court, Iverson jogged over to the Pistons bench and hugged Brown, drawing cheers from the crowd. Sixers center Derrick Coleman and guard Eric Snow also greeted their former coach with hugs.

Fans, though, haven't forgiven Brown for leaving.

"He deserted us. He's a traitor," said season ticket-holder John Clifton. "He couldn't win here so he went to a better team."

The Pistons beat the Sixers in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, before losing to New Jersey in the conference finals. Despite consecutive 50-win seasons, Pistons general manager Joe Dumars fired Rick Carlisle and hired Brown.

Brown expected a hostile greeting from the fans, and tried to convince his wife and children to stay in their suburban Philadelphia home rather than attend the game.

"The passion and support I had from these people the six years I was coaching was very special," Brown said before the game. "Unfortunately my wife and kids will hear junk because of what you people write."

One of basketball's most well-traveled coaches, Brown spent more seasons with the Sixers than any other team in his 32-year coaching career. He led them to the playoffs five straight seasons, including the 2001 NBA Finals (news - web sites), and coached the U.S. men's national team, which included Iverson, last summer at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.

"I left because I didn't think I would make a difference," Brown said. "I've always felt that if I wasn't doing the job I was supposed to do, it's time to move on."

Brown had two years left in his contract that paid him $6 million per season, but the Sixers released him from a contractual clause that prohibited him from coaching another NBA team if he left Philadelphia prematurely.

He said he hadn't decided to leave until the last game of the season, a loss to the Pistons in Game 6. Brown didn't clarify his comment, but it's possible the fact Iverson was late for the game played a role in his decision. Iverson arrived at the arena 30 minutes before tipoff, blaming his lateness on a flat tire.

Brown's biggest problem with Iverson during his time here concerned the former MVP's practice habits. Iverson often arrived late for practices and missed several practices for various excuses. Brown also harped on Iverson for taking too many shots and playing selfishly at times.

"I didn't treat everybody the right way. That's the bottom line," Brown said. "They treated me fairly. I didn't give enough back. I was unfair to Allen and some of the other guys."

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