SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown said Thursday he plans to check into the Mayo Clinic after next week’s NBA draft for a three-day stay.

“Shelly has it set up for Wednesday morning,” he said, referring to his wife.

Brown will be in the hospital to address a medical problem that developed from complications following hip surgery in November, and did not go away after a second procedure in March.

The Hall of Fame coach has said if doctors deem him healthy enough, he wants to return next season with the Pistons and insists he will not coach another NBA team.

If Brown can’t coach, he is expected to be an executive, perhaps with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Still, some wouldn’t be shocked if he ended up coaching the New York Knicks next season.

Before Detroit played the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Brown said he didn’t want to think about what he would miss about the game if his coaching career is over.

“If it happens, I’ve got a young family,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of neat things that have happened to me because of the opportunity to coach. I’m sure I’ll be doing some coaching in some capacity. I want to help the game.”

The win over the Spurs in Game 6 was Brown’s 100th in the postseason, moving him past Red Auerbach for third place on the all-time list.

The night before the final game of the NBA season, Brown had dinner with his good friend, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich.

“We’ve been out several times, but last night was real special for both of us,” Popovich said Thursday night. “We talked very little about basketball, which is awkward because that’s all we ever do.”

Detroit’s Chauncey Billups said he hopes Brown is not forced to end his coaching career because he is more passionate about basketball than anybody he’s been around.

“I don’t anticipate it being over for him, but if it is, it’s going to be a dark day for the NBA,” he said.

Last year, Brown became the first coach to win NBA and NCAA championships. He won the college title with Kansas in 1988.

AP-ES-06-23-05 2116EDT


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