Feb 11, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro talks with guard Chris Paul (3) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Clippers defeated the Sixers 107-90. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Clippers made it publicly known that they will not re-sign their most successful head coach in franchise history. Vinny Del Negro had a contract that will expire this June, but owner Donald Sterling announced that he will not be returning to the team for the 2013-2014 season.

With the Sixers still searching for a coach, most signs point to the team signing a potentially up-and-coming assistant coach. Vinny Del Negro is an interesting candidate though. At just 46 years of age, he could be a long-term solution still if successful.

Del Negro proved that he could handle the egos of NBA players, something Doug Collins was never able to prove. The former Clippers coach was in charge of the likes of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Caron Butler, and Jamal Crawford, along with former stars such as Chauncey Billups and Lamar Odom. Ultimately, despite all of the criticism and firing, he did so successfully, never losing his team the way that Collins seemed to last season.

With that said, and various coaching positions open around the NBA, many teams will do their due diligence to consider Del Negro. Despite being highly criticized in Los Angeles for his player rotations and play design in critical moments, Del Negro did great things for the Clippers franchise.

In his first season as head coach, the Clippers finished just 32-50, but Blake Griffin did win Rookie of the Year. In the biggest summer in franchise history, the team acquired All-Star point guard Chris Paul after the league called off a move to cross-town rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Del Negro led the Clippers to the Conference Semifinals in 2011-2012 after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs. Regardless of the second round exit, the Clippers were viewed as one of the up-and-coming teams after a successful campaign.

Finally, in 2012-2013, the Clippers set all sorts of franchise records. Del Negro’s squad went on a franchise-best 17-game winning streak, including a record of 16-0 in the month of December. They recorded their first 50-win season in their history, finishing with a total of 56, and swept the season series against the Lakers. Unfortunately for the Clippers, they ran into a hot Grizzlies team that won four straight to win the series after Los Angeles took a 2-0 series lead.

Del Negro finished with a record of 128-102 record with the Clippers, good for a .557 win percentage, which is best in franchise history. He also becomes just the second head coach of the Clippers to leave the team with a winning record.

Before coaching the Clippers, Del Negro coached the Chicago Bulls for two seasons beginning in 2008. He finished with an 81-81 record and two first-round playoff exits before being let go by the team. Del Negro has never advanced past the Conference Semifinals in his five years of head coaching experience, but he does have an impressive overall record of 210-184. Whether or not Vinny Del Negro lands another job with a team before the 2013-2014 season is not yet to be determined, but if he does find work again, he is bringing a winning attitude and an impressive resume along with him.

Nevertheless, here is the All-NBA First Team:

May 3, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul (3) brings the ball up court in game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 118-105. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Paul – Point Guard, Los Angeles Clippers

Unfortunately for the rest of the league, the All-NBA First Team may look the same at one of the guard positions for years to come. Chris Paul is known league-wide as the best point guard in the league. Derrick Rose may have something to say after coming off ACL surgery a year ago, but for now, Paul owns this position with ease.

Paul averaged 16.9 points and 9.7 assists this past season for a Clippers squad that won more games than ever before in franchise history. Also known as the “Point God”, Chris Paul ran the show in “Lob City” brilliantly once again.

Apr 10, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) high fives fans after scoring 47 points against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Kobe Bryant – Guard, Los Angeles Lakers

For the eleventh time in the history of the league, the All-NBA First Team included Kobe Bryant. The future Hall-of-Famer posted numbers that we’ve come to expect, 27.3 points, 6 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game. Kobe also shot above his career-average at 46.3% from the field.

It really is hard to say much else about this selection. As long as Kobe Bryant is still playing, there will likely be a spot for him on the All-NBA First Team. Unfortunately for his Lakers though, there is a lot of uncertainty. Steve Nash is nearing the end of his career and looked like just a shadow of what he did just a year prior in Phoenix, Dwight Howard is an unrestricted free agent as of July, and Mike D’Antoni has been highly criticized since landing the head coaching job after the Lakers fired Mike Brown five games into the season.

May 15, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) drives the ball past Memphis Grizzlies small forward Tayshaun Prince (21) during game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant – Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder

Another no-brainer. Kevin Durant is easily the best pure-scorer in the NBA. At 6’9″ with a wingspan of approximately 7’5″, Durant is nearly impossible to defend. When faced with smaller defenders, he simply posts up and shoots right over the top of them. When faced with bigger opponents, he can either beat them off the dribble and finish at the rim or create separation and pull up from virtually anywhere. Kevin Durant’s ability to fill it up resembles a video game.

At just 24 years of age, Durant posted 28.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and a career-high 4.6 assists. He also set career-highs in blocks, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage. Durant will be a regular on this list for the next decade or so.

May 15, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is pressured by Chicago Bulls small forward Jimmy Butler (21) during the first half in game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James – Forward, Miami Heat

He’s a four-time MVP, need I say more? LeBron has established himself as the best player in the league, no exceptions. A year removed from an NBA Championship, James simply went out and put up 26.8 points, 8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists on a nightly basis. At first glance, those number may seem so gaudy that it may be a mistake. Unfortunately for the rest of the NBA, those numbers are legitimate, and LeBron is only getting better.

LeBron shot a ridiculous 56.5% from the field and 40.6% from deep. The thing that is most impressive about the MVP is that as soon as team’s think they may have found a way to slow him down, he fixes that and silences the critics. Early in his career, teams simply sagged off and let him live on the perimeter. Now that LeBron shoots at a 40% clip, teams can not rely on that strategy. Also, people criticized his lack of post-skills given his physical tools. For anybody that has watched Miami this year, you know that this has also been laid to rest. At just 28 years of age, and ten years into his career, LeBron may still be on this list for another ten.

Apr 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) drives to the basket on Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) during 4th quarter action in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Duncan – Center/Power Forward, San Antonio Spurs

After 16 years in the NBA, Tim Duncan has been the epitome of a coach’s player. Duncan is a team-first superstar talent with the ability to take over a game when needed and lead at both ends on a nightly basis. Labeled “Mr. Fundamentals”, he does just about everything you can imagine to help his team win. Luckily for the Spurs, they have been the beneficiary of that since taking him first overall in the 1997 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest.

In 2012-2013, the veteran averaged impressive figures of 17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. Duncan was efficient as he always is, and shot the ball at 50% clip from the floor. Most importantly, San Antonio holds a 2-0 lead over the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals.

That wraps up the 2013 All-NBA Teams. This years teams were as follows:

1. First Team: Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Tim Duncan
2. Second Team: Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin, Marc Gasol
3. Third Team: James Harden, Dwyane Wade, Paul George, David Lee, Dwight Howard

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