"I watch other NBA teams. I can't watch the Sixers," he said. "Ever since I left, I wasn't able to. Not because there was any bitterness, it was just a feeling I get. I gave everything I had here for 10 years. It was just always tough for me to watch them, so I didn't."

Iverson was apologetic for his past behavior and said he acted a lot on anger.

"I don't want to prove anyone wrong in this situation. I'm not in it for that," he said. "If I can help my team win basketball games the way Coach wants me to help, then I'll be satisfied."

Iverson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft, but his 10 turbulent seasons in Philadelphia were marred by rants about practice, run-ins with former coach Larry Brown, arrests and a failed rap career.

In one infamous blowup at the end of the 2002 season, he repeated the word "practice" nearly 20 times during a rambling monologue.