The gathering seemed imperative given the league's lockout. The Sixers, a young team needing time together, will likely miss some court time because of the negotiations on the collective bargaining agreement. The two sides - representatives from the players association and team owners - met on Wednesday in New York for only the second time since the lockout began July 1.
Per lockout rules, Sixers coach Doug Collins and his staff cannot communicate with players.
Brand and starting point guard Jrue Holiday spend their offseason in Los Angeles. Iguodala, Williams, guard Jodie Meeks, guard Evan Turner, center Spencer Hawes, and forward Craig Brackins flew out to join the pair, playing pickup games on Friday, Saturday, and Monday afternoon and lifting and shooting in the morning.
Most of the players stayed at the W Hotel in Hollywood; Iguodala said he, Meeks, Turner, and Hawes ate breakfast together before heading to the gym. Iguodala added that everyone present was in shape.
"It was good; it was really good," he said.
On Monday, the Sixers played against a hodgepodge of talent in the L.A. area: David Lee of the Golden State Warriors, J.R. Smith of the Denver Nuggets, and some local college players.
"It was funny, because we were actually rotating, using our rotations, playing help-side defense, and executing pick-and-roll defense," Iguodala said. "Guys were like, 'Wow, you guys are really talking on defense.' It was still there; that was funny to me."
Noticeably absent from the weekend were forward Thaddeus Young and big man Marreese Speights. Although Iguodala had no specific reason for their absences, he did say he has spoken with Speights, who is training in Las Vegas on a "really strict program."
More than assessing progress, or playing pickup, Iguodala said it was good to see his teammates again. The team hasn't been in one place since the morning after losing to the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA playoffs in April.
Each night in Los Angeles, everyone met for dinner.
"The biggest meal we had was at Mr. Chow's in Beverly Hills. There had to be about 30 people there: friends and family of the team," said Iguodala. "And of course I picked up the bill, so that hurt."
Last season, the Sixers' training camp began Sept. 28, which is right around the time the players are planning rendezvous No. 2 in Atlanta.
Contact staff writer Kate Fagan at kfagan@phillynews.com or @DeepSixer3 on Twitter. Read her blog, "Deep Sixer," at www.philly.com/deepsixer
