Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reports that Larry Brown will not stand in the way of anyone making the U.S. National team this summer. Even though he may have problems with the actions of some of the Celtics during last year?s playoffs, he wouldn?t begrudge a roster spot to Antoine Walker or Paul Pierce.

``I would never, ever stand in the way of a kid making the team if it was a personal thing,'' said the 76ers coach who was named to lead the American squad in next summer's qualifier and, if successful, in the 2004 Games in Athens. ``That's too great an honor, and I would be the last one to ever do that.''

Brown was obviously annoyed when Walker stared down the Sixers bench as the Celtics wrapped up last year?s best-of-five playoff series. And Pierce got into it with some Sixer players during the five-game set. But Brown said he will look past that when he makes recommendations to the USA Basketball selection committee.

``I never have issues about the way they play,'' he said. ``I have an issue with the way some of them act. My thing is I always believe you should act like you've done it before.

``But I admire guys that help their team win. And those two guys I have great admiration for. That team has only gotten better since they've been there. I always think guys that come from winning teams should be the ones that represent our country, because obviously that makes me believe they make other players better. But, that being said, the chemistry and the makeup of the team is paramount.

``I have very little to say about the makeup of the team in terms of personnel. I have a lot to say about the kind of guys I want. I want unselfish, team guys that understand that our goal is to show everybody that we play the right way. So based on what they've done in their careers, I think they deserve every consideration.''