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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 30, 2010

NBA: Brown still deciding whether to return to Bobcats


By MIKE CRANSTON
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Larry Brown is being pulled in different directions as he weighs whether to return for a third season as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats.

At his end-of-season availability with reporters on Friday, the well-traveled Brown showed two sides. While he talked about his love for coaching and his eagerness to make the Bobcats better, he also lamented about the time he's spent away from his wife and teenage children in Philadelphia.

"I've got a 13-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son and the time I'm away from them I can't get that back," Brown said. "I'll be 70 (in September). I don't feel that way unless I look in the mirror, but I've got to go home and talk to my wife because I love her and I love my kids."

Brown has coached a record 10 pro teams and has had three college head coaching jobs. So his indecision has opened speculation he could bolt for yet another job — at the same time the Philadelphia 76ers are looking for a coach.

But Brown repeated that he wouldn't coach for anyone other than Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.

"I don't want this to drag on," Brown said. "But I think the worst thing you can do is make a decision right after the playoffs. But I still want to coach and I told that to Michael, that I don't want to coach for anyone else."

Brown has helped the 6-year-old Bobcats to new heights. They went 44-38 this season and reached the playoffs for the first time, only to be swept in the first round by Orlando.

Brown talked about upgrades needed on offense and the team's difficult position in regards to the salary cap with point guard Raymond Felton set to become an unrestricted free agent, while forward Tyrus Thomas will be a restricted free agent.

As Brown excitedly talked about needing to make younger players on the team better, he was asked if he could see himself not coaching.

"No, but there's an opening at Episcopal High School in Philly," he joked.

Brown's future is the immediate priority for Jordan, who spent $275 million last month to become the first ex-player to become an NBA majority owner.

"I'm not going to let him go so easily," Jordan said on Wednesday after playing in a golf pro-am. "There are rumors out there, but right now they are rumors. Until he comes to me and says anything otherwise, it's business as usual."

As Brown finished up with reporters, he was headed to Philadelphia, eager to see his children.

"I don't want them to grow up and all of a sudden I blink and say I missed that," Brown said. "It's something that I'm just going to have to address and figure out."