Chris Webber

Iverson, Webber don't travel to Milwaukee

Philadelphia starters Allen Iverson and Chris Webber did not travel with the 76ers for their game in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, while the Bucks were without starting point guard Mo Williams.

Iverson also sat out the 76ers' 97-87 loss to Detroit on Tuesday after undergoing surgery to remove an abscessed wisdom tooth.

Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks said Wednesday night he spoke to Iverson just before the procedure and the only timetable for the guard's return is when he feels better.

``We're just waiting to see how he feels to see when he's ready to come back,'' Cheeks said.

The 76ers' next game is Friday against the Chicago Bulls.

Iverson ranks first in the NBA in minutes per game (43.4), third in scoring (28.7), ninth in assists (7.7) and eighth in steals (1.78).

It was Philadelphia's third straight game without Webber (back) and centre Steven Hunter (right knee sprain).

Williams, averaging 22.3 points and eight assists in the last three games, bruised his left elbow in a 93-88 loss to Indiana on Tuesday night. The Bucks are also without starting forwards Bobby Simmons (foot) and former Raptor Charlie Villanueva (elbow) for several more weeks.

Chris Webber denies asking to be traded out of Philadelphia

Chris Webber denied a published report Friday that he had asked the Philadelphia 76ers to trade him.

``No, I haven't asked to be traded,'' he said before the 76ers' 106-94 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday. ``I did say I was frustrated with the situation, but that's pretty much as far as it goes.''

Webber has talked with 76ers president Billy King about the star forward's unhappiness over a reduced role that's included three fourth-quarter benchings in the first seven games this season. In the 76ers' previous game, Webber sat out the final 15:45 of a victory at Seattle.

Webber's minutes and production have dramatically declined this season, and coach Maurice Cheeks has turned him into a US$20 million role player.

``He just wants to play,'' Cheeks said Friday. ``I don't mind him being upset about wanting to play. But this is not about individuals. This is about trying to win games. This is not punishment. This is nothing personal about any one guy.

``But I can understand his frustration.''

Webber admitted that his frustration was building, but emphasized he did not request a trade, as reported by the Sacramento Bee.

``I was frustrated, but that's about it,'' Webber said.

Webber was on the bench in the second and fourth quarters against the Suns and scored only eight points in 20:42.

``You know he feels like he could help us if he was out there on the basketball court,'' teammate Allen Iverson said, ``but it's out of his control and it's something he'll have to fight through. I'll be there to support him and give him as much positive energy as I can.

``He just wants to be on the court. His whole thing is not that he needs the ball or he needs his shot and stuff like that. That's not what he's concerned about. That's not what he's worried about. He's worried about being in the game. He wants to play.''

Webber said he had spoken with King, ``and he knows that I'm frustrated.''

``That's obvious from the time that I played before and the time that I'm playing now,'' he added. ``It's nothing more than frustration.''

King said Thursday night he's talked recently with Webber but did not say if a trade was requested. Webber is due another $22 million next year in the final season of his contract.

``The focus has been on the team all year, and Chris is an important member of the team,'' King said. ``Maurice has been making decisions each game that he and the staff feel will give us the best opportunity to succeed, and I support him in the decision-making process.''

Webber is averaging 10.3 points on 37 per cent shooting in 30.6 minutes, well off his 14-year career averages of 21.5 points on 48 per cent shooting in 37.9 minutes.

``I'm not going to keep playing like this,'' Webber told the Bee after scoring six points Wednesday night in Seattle. ``I don't like this role.''

Since Webber was traded from Sacramento to Philadelphia before the 2005 trade deadline, he's never really seemed to be happy playing with a franchise that has hovered around .500 since his arrival. He clashed with former coach Jim O'Brien at the end of 2005, calling his half-season the worst situation of his basketball career.

But he rebounded with a strong season under Cheeks last year, averaging 20.2 points and 9.9 rebounds in 75 games, the most games he'd played in the last six seasons.

Unhappy Chris Webber meets with team president over reduced role

Chris Webber has talked with Philadelphia 76ers president Billy King about the star forward's unhappiness over a reduced role that's included two fourth-quarter benchings.

Webber's minutes and production have dramatically declined this season, and coach Maurice Cheeks has rested him for two entire fourth quarters in seven games, turning him into a US$20 million role player.

King said Thursday night he's talked recently with Webber, but did not say if a trade was requested. Webber is due another $22 million next year in the final season of his contract.

``The focus has been on the team all year and Chris is an important member of the team,'' King said. ``Maurice has been making decisions each game that he and the staff feel will give us the best opportunity to succeed and I support him in the decision-making process.''

Webber is averaging 10.3 points on 37 per cent shooting in 30.6 minutes, well off his 14-year career averages of 21.5 points on 48 per cent shooting in 37.9 minutes.

``I'm not going to keep playing like this,'' Webber told the Sacramento Bee after scoring six points Wednesday night in Seattle. ``I don't like this role.''

Cheeks has said he's been very clear with Webber about what he expects from the five-time all-star.

Since Webber was traded from Sacramento to Philadelphia before the 2005 trade deadline, he's never really seemed to be happy playing with a franchise that has hovered around .500 since his arrival. He butted heads with former coach Jim O'Brien at the end of 2005, calling his half-season the worst situation of his basketball career.

``Timeout times 50, basically,'' he said, referring to his infamous gaffe at Michigan.

But he rebounded with a strong season under Cheeks last year, averaging 20.2 points and 9.9 rebounds in 75 games, the most games he'd played in the last six seasons.

He said in training camp he was feeling as strong physically as he had since undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee in June 2003.

A snapshot of his frustrations came last week when Webber had six of his 11 rebounds in the third quarter in a win against Miami, then sat in the fourth. Webber deftly deflected numerous postgame questions about his benching, smiling through brief answers and saying only that he was happy the Sixers were winning.

``It's whatever,'' he said.

Unhappy Chris Webber meets with team president over reduced role

Allen Iverson stepped in front of the cameras looking like himself _ wearing a No. 3 jersey, as much a part of his identity as his all-out play, with a headband wrapped snugly around his cornrows, grown longer down the neck.

Iverson, with big diamonds dangling from his ears, was even a tad late, as usual, to Friday's media day press conference.

What was different was his tone.

``It's the same song and dance every year,'' Iverson said glumly. ``I come into this press conference and say the same thing. I'll do anything it will take to win, and I'll play as hard as I can play and I give it everything that I have. I think every year that I've done that.''

Perhaps worn down by constant trade rumours and an off-season in which the Sixers failed to upgrade the roster, Iverson sounded like he realized the team is not a title contender.

``It's taken longer than people would have thought,'' Iverson said. ``The only thing I can do is keep going and see what happens.''

At 31, Iverson is still Philadelphia's franchise player, and the seven-time all-star and former league MVP is creeping up on 20,000 points over a 10-year career. Last season, Iverson finished second behind Kobe Bryant in the scoring race, shot 43 per cent and averaged 7.6 assists _ all better numbers than when he led Philadelphia to the NBA final.

But the Sixers were nowhere near the final. The team went 38-44 last season, missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

Chris Webber likely can empathize. He averaged 20.2 points and 9.9 rebounds in his first full season in Philadelphia but missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1997-98 season with Washington.

On Friday, Webber tiptoed around questions about his overall happiness in Philadelphia.

``It's built a lot of character, and I'm not a quitter,'' he said. ``It's been tough, definitely, but I'm not used to anything ever coming easy.''

With contracts totaling nearly US$40 million this season, Iverson and Webber, who compiled statistics near their career averages last season, were the subject of trade rumours this summer. Iverson reportedly nearly was dealt to Boston, and he said the trade talk took a toll on him and his family. A late July visit from team president Billy King finally assured Iverson he wasn't going anywhere.

That conversation put Iverson at ease. After all, he considered himself an ``original 76er'' like Julius Erving, Charles Barkley and Wilt Chamberlain.

``I'd put myself in that category,'' Iverson said. ``I don't think there will ever be a day where I'll ask to leave.''

In the Sixers universe, that also means the team's success or failure ultimately will fall to Iverson and Webber, the team's two biggest stars.

``I want to win a championship more than anybody in this league, but I want to win a championship in Philadelphia,'' Iverson said.