Pistons to fine Iverson after guard misses practice Thursday

Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson missed practice Thursday and will be levied a "hefty" fine, coach Michael Curry said.

"I'm surprised when guys are late; I'm surprised when they don't show," Curry said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "It's a pretty hefty fine to be late, or to miss, and once again, it's accountability for yourself and your teammates."

Rodney Stuckey, who scored 13 points and added a career-high 11 assists for his first career double-double Wednesday in a 110-96 victory over New York, will start in Iverson's place Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Curry said he hadn't decided whether Iverson would play.

Iverson, who was traded from the Denver Nuggets nearly a month ago, is averaging 18.5 points and 5.4 assists in 10 games with the Pistons this season.

He talked Saturday about the importance of finding chemistry with a new team through practice.

"I've been through it before," Iverson said. "I think the toughest part of it has been our schedule. We've been on the road a lot. That was tough. For me, it's just getting a chance to settle in.

"The most important thing is getting more practice time."

Iverson is no stranger to controversy stemming from practice issues.

In April 2002, he missed practice prior to Game 2 of the Philadelphia 76ers' first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, a month before his famous rant at coach Larry Brown's criticism for missing team practices.

Nearly two years later, he was benched for the start of a 76ers game against the Nuggets by coach Chris Ford and fined an undisclosed amount after not making it to Denver for practice.

Then in November 2006, Iverson reportedly stormed out of the practice gym after a conflict with coach Maurice Cheeks. The 76ers traded him to the Nuggets the next month.