Allen Iverson accomplished more than anyone ever knew during the Olympic qualifying tournament last month in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Aside from helping the United States earn a berth in next summer's Olympics in Athens, Greece, aside from emerging as the most popular player in the 10-team qualifying field, the 76ers' star guard was laying the groundwork for a 4-year contract extension that will kick in with the 2005-06 NBA season.

While Iverson was helping the U.S. team sweep through the tournament undefeated, his agent, Leon Rose, was meeting in San Juan with Sixers president/general manager Billy King to hammer out various details.

The result, according to two sources: Iverson will be signed to a new deal through the 2008-09 season. He could have opted out of his existing contract after the coming season. Including the $13.5 million he will be paid this season and the $14.625 million in what would have been his option year, the package will be worth a total of about $104 million. That includes a high of $21.9 million in 2008-09.

If Iverson, 28, fulfills the length of the new deal, he will have spent 13 seasons with the Sixers, more than any player since the franchise moved to Philadelphia from Syracuse in 1963. Both Julius Erving and Maurice Cheeks played 11 seasons; Hal Greer played 15 seasons with the franchise, the first five in Syracuse.

Iverson has won three scoring titles and was the league's Most Valuable Player in 2000-01, driving the Sixers to the Finals for the first time since Erving, Moses Malone and Cheeks led them there in 1982-83.

King said yesterday that the Sixers would have a "special surprise" tonight at a party for season ticketholders at the Wachovia Center. Iverson is expected to be introduced to the crowd, with the formal announcement of the extension.