Philadelphia 76ers will enter the 2020/21 NBA season with a new coach. The team announced on Monday that they are parting ways with head coach Brett Brown, ending his affiliation with the franchise after seven seasons.
The news doesn’t come as a surprise, as 76ers exited the playoffs on Sunday after an embarrassing first-round sweep by Boston Celtics. Brown was considered to be on a hot seat even before this, as many believed he is unable to get the best of a talented team that has features All-Stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
“I have a tremendous level of respect for Brett both personally and professionally and appreciate all he’s done for the 76ers organization and the City of Philadelphia,” said 76ers general manager Elton Brand in a statement. “He did many positive things during his time here, developing young talent and helping position our team for three straight postseason appearances.”
Brett Brown was appointed as Philadelphia 76ers’ head coach in 2013, and was tasked with guiding the team through a painful rebuild process known as “The Process.” After averaging less than 19 wins in his first four seasons at the helm, Brown guided the 76ers to Conference Semifinals for the two consecutive years.
The 76ers were expected to take a step forward this season, and go even further, but things didn’t work out that way. Although injuries played a significant role in the team’s struggles, the organization believed that Brown took as far as he could and that it was time to have a fresh face on the sidelines.
Firing Brown won’t be the only change for the underperforming franchise, as 76ers are reportedly expected to make a number of other front office and coaching changes. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Brand’s job isn’t in jeopardy, and he will continue to oversee the team’s basketball activities.
Philly is expected to take its time with hiring a new coach, but there are already a few candidates that they have a strong interest in. The main favorite for the job is LA Clippers’ assistant Ty Lue, who previously won an NBA title with Cleveland Cavaliers. The organization feels that Lue could command the respect of the locker room and would be able to find the best way to maximize the performance of Simmons and Embiid.
Another notable candidate is Villanova’s Jay Wright. Although he doesn’t have NBA experience, Wright is highly-regarded in basketball circles as won two NCAA titles with the Wildcats.
