Cheeks said Webber has been a complete professional, but understood why the 36-year-old forward wanted to end his career with a winner.

If he were to go, that would be two All-Stars off the roster in a matter of weeks. Brown and Iverson had a contentious relationship, but the two worked together. Brown said he would have been comfortable returning to the 76ers even if Iverson had not been traded last month.

"I hope Allen can have the success he deserves and that we can build up into something this city can be proud of," he said.

Brown's job with the 76ers was his longest with any team in his 34-year coaching career. He left to take the job at Detroit and led the Pistons to an NBA title in the first of his two seasons there before his brief stay in New York.

When Brown left the 76ers for the Pistons after the 2002-03 season, he had two years left on a contract that paid him $6 million a season. The 76ers released him from a contractual clause that prohibited him from coaching another NBA team if he left Philadelphia prematurely.

"I think most people understood why I left," Brown said. "I didn't think at the time it was right for me to continue. I was here six years and I thought it got to the point where I wasn't able to do the things I thought I should do. It was time."

Brown did not want to look back on his one season in New York or talk much about the Knicks' recent improvement under Thomas.

"They've got a good young group and I think they've done a great job," Brown said.

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