Nearly two months after every other NBA team had their head coach in place, the Philadelphia 76ers have their man. Various internet reports indicate that Brett Brown, an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, will leave that job to take the head coaching job in Philadelphia.
Brown replaces Doug Collins who resigned from the job in April. This hiring ends a four month search for their head man.
The 52-year-old Brown was an assistant coach in San Antonio, learning under Gregg Popovich since 2002. He also coached the Australian men’s national team from 2009-12. Prior to joining San Antonio, Brown spent nine years as a head coach in the Australian Basketball League.
He was hired by General Manager Sam Hinkie, also new to the job after being hired away from Houston. Hinkie has started a full scale rebuild of the 76ers trading away Jrue Holliday in a draft day move to New Orleans for Nerlens Noel, and taking Michael Carter-Williams with his own first round pick. The 76ers also allowed Andrew Bynum to walk after their big trade acquisition of last summer did not play a single game due to chronic knee injuries.
The Sixers missed the playoffs after going 34-48, just one year after advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Brown will reportedly receive a four-year guaranteed contract to coach in Philadelphia.
Brown becomes the second Spurs assistant to land a head-coaching job this offseason, joining Mike Budenholzer who is the new head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.
Thanks for reading. You can follow our basketball department on Twitter – @giordun, @aFishCalledMatt, @NBAFantasyInfo, @herrickss, @matttheballer23, @mikeyy7241 and @KaineElmy. While you’re at it, give the site a follow too – @lastwordonsport.
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? If so, check out our “Join Our Team” page to find out how.
