Sixers welcome Henderson back as beloved mentor

It was as if everyone's favorite uncle had come for a long visit.

The 76ers welcomed a fresh yet familiar face yesterday, re-signing veteran forward Alan Henderson for the final nine games of the season in a move that met with the approval of players and coaches alike.

"It's great having a guy like Alan come back," said Andre Iguodala, the team's top scorer. "He's a good person, great teammate. For the young guys, it's always good to have a guy with experience in the league to just coach them and show them the ropes and how to go on about the NBA life."

Coach Maurice Cheeks said he talked after practice with assistant Jim Lynam and told him, "I've never seen a bunch of guys as happy to see a player come back as they were with him, really."

Henderson, 34, began the season with the Sixers. But with the team needing to cut the payroll to avoid paying the luxury tax, they traded him to Utah on Feb. 22 along with cash considerations for the right to exchange second-round picks in the 2007 NBA draft with the Jazz. The Jazz waived him on March 2 without Henderson reporting to the team.

Henderson said he got some feelers from contending teams but nothing worked out since he would have signed too late to be eligible to compete in the postseason. The Sixers had to wait 30 days after Henderson was waived before bringing him back, and did just that.

"I'm just glad it's all worked out that I'm back here now with the guys that I started the year with," the 6-foot-9 Henderson said after yesterday's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Although he played in just 34 games and averaged 3.5 points and 3.1 rebounds for the Sixers, he proved to be a valuable locker-room presence for his younger teammates.

Since he was traded, Henderson spent "a lot of time holding the baby while he was sleeping and watching the Sixers play." His wife gave birth on Feb. 14 to a son, Jacob.

"I see a lot of confidence in the guys," he said. "When I'm watching games, it looks like they think they're going to win."

Notes. Henderson could be pressed into action tonight against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Forward Joe Smith played in two games during the weekend but returned home to deal with personal matters. It was not known whether he would be back in time for the game. . . . With Smith, Iguodala (sore back) and Kyle Korver (sore right wrist) sitting out, Cheeks cut yesterday's practice short. . . . The Knicks are closer to the eighth playoff spot than the Sixers - they are 21/2 out compared to 41/2 for the Sixers - but they are in bad shape injury-wise. Out are guards Jamal Crawford (stress fracture in right ankle) and Quentin Richardson (back surgery) and forward David Lee (bone bruise in right leg). Guard Steve Francis (sprained right ankle) is doubtful. If Francis is out, look for former Temple star Mardy Collins to play more. He had career highs of 45 minutes and 14 points (with six assists) in the Knicks' most recent game, a loss to the New Orleans Hornets.