Allen Iverson and Chris Webber apologized Wednesday for their actions a night earlier, when they didn't arrive to the arena until just before tip-off and then didn't sit on the bench during Philadelphia's victory over New Jersey.

The players were on the bench in the first quarter for the 76ers' game at Charlotte, although Iverson returned to the locker room in the second quarter. Coach Maurice Cheeks blamed Tuesday's episode on a lack of communication.

"I definitely wasn't trying to disrespect Mo in any way, or the fans, as everybody is talking about," Iverson said. "I've been here for 10 years, and to deliberately try to disrespect the fans, I would never try to do that in any way. I'm upset it came across that way."

Iverson, Webber apologize for late arrival

April 19, 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Allen Iverson and Chris Webber apologized Wednesday for their actions a night earlier, when they didn't arrive to the arena until just before tip-off and then didn't sit on the bench during Philadelphia's victory over New Jersey.

The players were on the bench in the first quarter for the 76ers' game at Charlotte, although Iverson returned to the locker room in the second quarter. Coach Maurice Cheeks blamed Tuesday's episode on a lack of communication.

"I definitely wasn't trying to disrespect Mo in any way, or the fans, as everybody is talking about," Iverson said. "I've been here for 10 years, and to deliberately try to disrespect the fans, I would never try to do that in any way. I'm upset it came across that way."

Team officials also said they should have informed the media and fans the two stars would not play on Fan Appreciation Night in Philadelphia.

Iverson, who has been battling an ankle injury, said he told the team trainer on Monday that he wouldn't play against the Nets. Webber, who has a sore back, said he knew moments after the 76ers were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday that he would sit out.

"It was hurting to play," Webber said. "So when our goal was terminated in making the playoffs, I knew then I wasn't going to play.

"I think this is just a big misunderstanding. We didn't try to shun the fans or whatever is being reported. When you're not necessarily loved by the media, the fans are all you have."

But reporters weren't told that before the game the players wouldn't play, and Cheeks seemed to indicate the players would play when he addressed the media before the game.

Iverson, Philadelphia's leading scorer at 33 points per game, and Webber, second with 20.2 points a contest, said they talked with Cheeks about the incident.

"We had a conversation and they were very apologetic," Cheeks said. "They were sorry that this all has taken place, as I am."

Iverson said he hasn't spoken with team president Billy King, who was irate a day earlier. King, who arrived just before the game, would not comment at halftime.

"I've said enough," he said.

Players are required to arrive 90 minutes before the game when they are playing, although some players who are injured will arrive closer to tipoff.

"I honestly thought as long as I got there before the ball went up, everything would be cool," Iverson said. "I've been doing it that way my whole career and it never was a problem, even when coach (Larry) Brown was here."

Cheeks, who was upset at the players' tardy arrival Tuesday, was more diplomatic before Wednesday's game.

"This was a delicate situation," Cheeks said. "My communication with Chris and Allen should have been better. I take responsibility, I'm the coach."

As for sitting on the bench, some injured players do, but Iverson said he doesn't like to.

"I don't like to sit on the bench and be heckled by one or two fans, I just don't like to do it," said Iverson, who watched the Tuesday's game with Webber from the locker room. "I've had that experience and didn't like it. I'm human just everybody else."

Both players arrived within 90 minutes of game time Wednesday in Charlotte, and spoke to reporters separately.

"If we would had known it was going to develop into something like this, of course we wouldn't have done it," Webber said. "I regret it and truly apologize to the fans."

Iverson said it's another harmless incident that has been blown out of proportion in his Philadelphia career.

"Everything that I do, everything that I say is magnified," Iverson said in front of more than a dozen reporters outside the Sixers' locker room. "I didn't think it was going to get out of hand like this."