With the 76ers, leading the NBA in scoring three times, you're a star.

With the U.S. National Team, attempting to qualify for next summer's Olympics, you're a starter, but - like everyone else - just another role player.

But on the team bus the other night, preparing to roll out of the Roberto Clemente Coliseum parking lot, you're just plain old Dad.

That's who Allen Iverson was after the United States defeated Brazil in its opener of the 10-team tournament that will send the top three finishers to Athens, Greece. That's who Iverson had to be when Deuce, his 6-year-old son, inadvertently locked himself in the bathroom at the rear of the team bus.

"He went in, locked the door, then didn't know how to open it," Iverson said. "We were trying to get him out. The guy who was driving the bus, after 5 or 10 minutes, came and did something to get him out.

"[Deuce] was calm about it. He didn't panic or anything like that. I panicked. I just wanted him to get out of there before he started to panic. He was cool. He got out; he didn't have a problem with it."

This, then, has been a time for more than one member of the Iverson family to learn lessons, gain knowledge. Dad is making sure that Deuce won't make that mistake again. Dad also is carefully watching his U.S. teammates - All-Stars in their own right - and trying to absorb things that can help him in his own career. Members of the traveling party have lauded Iverson for the way he has conducted himself, the way he has blended with the team.

He has barely looked for his shots. Rather, he has searched for ways to contribute with a team that includes Tim Duncan's and Jermaine O'Neal's dominance around the basket, Jason Kidd's skill in directing an offense, Tracy McGrady's and Vince Carter's offensive explosiveness, and Ray Allen's, Kenyon Martin's and Elton Brand's off-the-bench contributions.