Allen Iverson is a 7-year NBA veteran, an Olympian. Two strong reasons for Randy Ayers feeling more than comfortable when the new 76ers coach met last week with his star guard.

"I see a guy that's more at peace with himself," Ayers said. "I think the summer was great. I think everybody in Philly knew that experience could be a positive one for him.

"I give him credit; he went and used it as one, or made it one. I looked at him from across the table and I saw a person that was more relaxed, and one that's ready to assume more of a leadership role."

Iverson was terrific in helping the U.S. team qualify for next summer's Olympics in Athens, Greece. In the midst of the Americans' dominance in the qualifying tournament, he said several times that he was learning things he hoped he could bring back to the Sixers.

"He has to address those with you," Ayers said. "I told him, even though we had been around each other for 6 years, I wanted to hear some things come out of his mouth in terms of him being a leader, being able to make some adjustments."

Ayers, the successor to Larry Brown, wants to use Iverson - the starting shooting guard - at the point when Eric Snow is out of the game. Iverson, in turn, wants Ayers to retain some of the plays the Sixers ran last season, sets in which he feels comfortable.

"I wanted to hear some things come from him, instead of me assuming some things," Ayers said. "And also for him to hear some things from me on how I thought we should be able to play. I thought we exchanged some ideas. It's something I hope to do throughout the whole year, because I think you have to have a rapport with your better players.

"In a nutshell, here's what made me feel comfortable coming out of the meeting: He told me, 'Coach, just coach. I'm on board with you. I just want you to coach.' And I think your best players have to allow you to do that. I've got to coach to my personality, and what I believe in. By him telling me that, I'm just going to go with it and not be worried about it."