Rookie game

By Lyle Crouse
ESPNET SportsZone

Kerry Kittles, 22, a first-year guard for the Nets, was peeling an orange as he sat next to Auerbach in the locker room, quietly listening to everything the former Celtics coach had to say.

Despite the 57 years that separated them, they were enjoying each other's company. Perhaps too much has been made of the generation gap between the NBA's old school and its young stars.

"They were all good kids," Auerbach told the reporters that began to gather around him. "Geez, I had no problems with any of them -� really. They listened, and whatever I told them to do, they tried to do it. They were good, really good. Respectful. They were great. No problems, no mouthing off, no wiseguys, no lack of respect."

In fact, the youngsters had plenty of respect for the Boston Celtics icon.

"I'm in awe of the guy, to tell you the truth," Kittles said later. "But he's a great guy to be around."

Auerbach fielded questions about rookie game MVP Allen Iverson. It was assumed that Auerbach and Iverson would be an odd couple, because the Sixers rookie has been labeled as a symbol of today's irreverent young player.

"I have a good rapport with Allen," Auerbach said. "When he was at Georgetown, I used to go over there to watch practice because (Hoyas coach) John Thompson's a former player of mine, see. He used to play for me before some of you were born."

Iverson couldn't contain his excitement after Auerbach shook his hand and congratulated him.

"That man over there was coaching me," Iverson said. "I mean, I just had to slap myself!

"He was my coach's coach, so that was an experience, something I'll never forget. I'll treasure that for the rest of my life.

"It was just great playing for him. I was just in awe, sitting on the bench beside him, hearing him say things to me -� him telling me how to control the pace of the game and what to do in different situations. It was great."

Isn't that stuff you've heard several times before, Allen?

"Yes, but it was stuff I never heard from him."