After suffering a disastrous season during 2018-19, the Philadelphia 76ers fired Head Coach Brett Brown. While Brown was never directly at fault, consistent failure from one of the NBA’s most talented sides has repercussions. Philadelphia is now on a hunt to find a replacement for the position.
The management is searching for creativity and new ideas on the court, and have shortlisted a few names for the position.
Here are 10 Potential Candidates for the Role
1. Nate McMillan – McMillan spent his entire career with the Seattle SuperSonics, as a player for 12 years and as a staff assistant coach after retirement. He was named the interim Head Coach in 2000 and took on full-time responsibility in 2001-02.
2. Ime Udoka – A former NBA and overseas player, Udoka retired in 2012 and joined former coach Gregg Popovich at the San Antonio Spurs bench. He worked his way up to lead assistant and moved to Philadelphia in 2019.
3. Billy Donovan – After an excellent season with the Oklahoma City Thunders, Billy Donovan amicably decided to part ways. Donovan spent his time as an assistant at the University of Kentucky between 89 and 94. He spent 20 successful seasons with the UF before arriving at OKC.
4. Adrian Griffin – Former player Adrian Griffin’s career spanned over nine years and five teams between 1999 and 2008. He immediately joined the Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant coach from 2008 to 2010, before moving to Chicago (2010-15), Orlando (2015-16), and OKC (2016-18).
5. Sam Cassell – Three-time NBA champion, Sam Cassell, spent 15 years in the league playing for eight teams. After retiring in 2009, Cassell joined the Washington Wizards’ coaching staff. He joined the LA Clippers in 2014 and stayed put ever since.
6. Tim Duncan – It’s unlikely Duncan plans to leave San Antonio and might be eyeing the Head Coach position after Popovich retires. However, a switch to Philadelphia looks great on paper. What lies ahead is anybody’s guess.
7. Dawn Staley – Undoubtedly among the most accomplished names on the list, Staley is a titan in the world of basketball. If she applies for the role of 76ers’ Head Coach, it would be a disaster not to bring her in.
8. Kenny Atkinson – Kenny spent the majority of his career overseas before moving to the NBA as an assistant coach. He spent his first four years at the NBA with New York and moved to Atlanta between 2012 and 2016.
9. Tyronn Lue – The heavy favorite for the job, Lue ticks a lot of boxes that the 76ers are currently searching for. His creative and adaptive offensive strategies could be a major boon for Philadelphia.
10. Becky Hammon – Undoubtedly among the best NBA athletes of all time. Hammon would be a perfect addition to Philadelphia. Having served the Spurs as an assistant coach in 2014, she has moved to the frontlines of Popovich’s crew since.
For more interesting stories from the world of sports, visit PA Punter.