Auburn Hills, Mich. ? Allen Iverson spoke at length about the ways he’s grown as a person and a player, saying he’s willing to make sacrifices to complete his career with a championship as a Detroit Piston.

The former NBA MVP then set himself up Tuesday for an exchange that showed he’s mature enough to be the butt of the joke.

“One thing is for sure, I’m going to do whatever the coach wants me to do,” Iverson said.

“Even practice?” Joe Dumars asked, mockingly.

“PRACTICE?!” Iverson replied with a sparkling smile, using the word he spoke over and over in Philadelphia in 2002.

Dumars, the Pistons’ president of basketball operations, welcomed Iverson at a packed news conference and delved into a deal that has created unprecedented excitement for a storied franchise with three NBA titles.

“I can’t think of one that has created this kind of buzz,” said Dumars, who has been a Pistons player and executive for two-plus decades. “He brings a certain stature with him that only a handful of guys in this league can bring.”

The Pistons were close to trading for Iverson from Philadelphia entering the 2000-01 season, but 76ers center Matt Geiger used a clause in his contract to nix the deal.

Then, the Pistons watched Iverson lead Philadelphia to the NBA finals and become league MVP.

Eight years later, Detroit is hoping “The Answer” was worth the wait.

Iverson does, too.

“I want to be the piece that gets us over the hump,” he said. “I’ve done so many things in this league, being an All-Star and scoring champion and things like that, but I haven’t accomplished my No. 1 goal and that is to win a championship.”

The Pistons acquired Iverson in a blockbuster trade Monday, sending All-Star point guard and former finals MVP Chauncey Billups, top reserve Antonio McDyess and project Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets.

“This is a big day for us, but I would be remiss if I didn’t say how much we appreciated how much Chauncey Billups and McDyess did for us,” Dumars said. “Much love to those guys because they helped build a foundation to help us become who we are today.”

Detroit is desperate for another shot at an NBA title after getting eliminated in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals the past three years following its third championship in 2004 and falling just short of winning a fourth the next season.

“We think he is going to fit with exactly what we stand for here,” Dumars said. “It’s all about winning and being in the big dance at the end of the year. Those are his goals along with ours.

“I don’t think we’re going to sit here today and make any grand promises, but everybody knows our goals.”

If Billups completes a physical and paperwork in time, Iverson will play tonight in Toronto. McDyess and Samb have not been required to report to Denver.