PHILADELPHIA -- Allen Iverson doesn't think he is going to be selected to the U.S. Olympic team for the 2004 Athens games.

Speaking after the Philadelphia 76ers' 93-71 win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, Iverson expressed doubt about joining his coach Larry Brown as part of the national team.

	Iverson

"I've heard a lot of names of people who should be picked for the team and mine is never mentioned," said Iverson, who was named the league's most valuable player in 2000-01 when he led the Sixers to the NBA Finals. "Anyone in their right mind who has seen me play for seven years knows that wouldn't be fair."

Iverson added that he has already said it would be an honor to play but "I'm not going to beg them to put me on the team."

Even though Brown is the head coach, he does not make the final selections for the squad. Instead, the squad is chosen by a USA Basketball selection committee that includes Sixers general manager Billy King.

"I know if Coach could have me on the team, I would be there," Iverson said. "I have no doubt about that."

The first five or six members of the team are expected to be announced later this month, with another two or three players added by early February.

During his press conference, Iverson was wearing a vintage Boston Celtics jersey, one of the Sixers' most bitter rivals. The jersey was No. 6, a replica of one worn by Hall of Famer Bill Russell.

"Everyone was getting on me, saying Wilt (Chamberlain) would be turning over in his grave right now," Iverson said, referring to the former Sixer who is also a Hall of Famer. "I just respect the player. It had to be 33 (Larry Bird), 6 (Russell) or 17 (John Havlicek)."