Brown Says It Again: He Wants To Coach In Charlotte

Larry Brown met with the Charlotte media today and repeated what he has been saying all along. He told reporters the same thing he told Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.

''I talked to Michael about it and told him now I'd go back and visit with my family,'' said Brown, who has coached the Bobcats for two seasons and has two seasons remaining on his contract. "I don't want this to be about me. My whole thought process now is how to make (the Bobcats) better. I don't want this to drag on. But I think the worst thing you could do is make a decision right after (being eliminated from) the playoffs. I still want to coach. I told that to Michael--I want to coach and I don't want to coach anywhere else.''

The Bobcats were swept out of the first round by the Orlando Magic, the defending Eastern Conference champions.

Brown said he would discuss the situation with his wife, Shelly, "and try to figure things out.'' Shelly Brown and their two children have remained in the Philadelphia suburbs while Brown has worked in Charlotte.

Brown said he had to ''go home and talk to my wife.''

''I love her and I love my kids and I don't want them growing up and all of a sudden I blink and I've missed that,'' he said. ''It's just something I'll have to address and try to figure out.''

There has been heavy speculation that the 76ers might ask the Bobcats for permission to speak with Brown about their coaching vacancy. Brown coached the Sixers for six seasons, joining them in 1997-98, and taking them to the NBA Finals in 2000-01. Sources have indicated that the Sixers, if they are interested at all, would only want Brown as a coach, not as a front office executive. Those same sources have said the Sixers are in no rush to pursue Brown; the Daily Newsw is reporting that president/general manager Ed Stefanski has a meeting scheduled Monday with former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson.

Stefanski has also been in touch with John Langel, the agent/attorney for former Sixers All-Star guard Doug Collins, now a TNT analyst.

''I have a great job here,'' Brown said. ''I love Charlotte. I love working for Michael; I love coaching. I don't think there are many places where I've been as comfortable, and I've been in some pretty special situations.''