Front Office Ramps Up
Head Coach Brett Brown is absolutely the right man for the job of coaching the Philadelphia 76ers. Before the 2015-2016 season began, we discussed his importance to this young team. He’s a wise sahib, a mentor, a friend, a teacher, a coach. Unfortunately, he’s just one man.
Part of the challenges of wearing too many hats is the struggle with changing them. The Philadelphia Eagles former head coach Chip Kelly was given authority over the general manager functions of the Philadelphia Eagles, despite having no background in the field or training in the area. The challenge was further complicated when the team promoted the former general manager Howie Roseman, who remained in the building. But perhaps the biggest struggle was the fact that both roles in the same man – which drove player relations with the head coach to the forefront of perseonnel decisions.
Bad for the team, bad for the person.
That same sybil-setup has been challenging Brett Brown for three years. While he promotes and teaches players new to the team and the NBA, he is also obligated to act as disciplinarian at times. That type of role is not exactly the strong suit of Brett Brown. That type of role works well with an associate head coach, a position which has been vacant since the team lost assistant head coach Chad Iske to take over as assistant head coach of the Sacramento Kings in April 2015. After going vacant for eight months, the team finally filled the position with Assistant Head Coach Mike D’Antoni.
D’Antoni joined his new team when the Sixers when the team played at Phoenix on December 26. From the Arizona Republic’s Paul Coro:
"“I always wanted to get back in,” D’Antoni said after Philadelphia’s Saturday shootaround. “I found out you can’t play golf in the wintertime, so I had to go to work. “You’re always in it. You’re never out of it. But to be able now to actually talk to players and coaches, that’s the fun part of coaching. When you have a receptive group, as coaches and players, it really makes it fun. This is kind of what we coaches live for. It’s heaven-sent for me. I’m happy as heck.” D’Antoni was clear that it is “Brett’s gig.” “The biggest factor why I’m here? Brett’s a great guy,” D’Antoni said. “After a while, you just want to be around good people and they’re good people. From all I’ve heard, the players are buying in and are good guys. As a coach, that’s all you want.” – Mike D’Antoni as interviewed by Paul Coro"
It was clear that Colangelo was the force behind persuading D’Antoni to join the Sixers. They have been linked throughout their careers, including a 253-136 record when Colangelo was GM/Owner of the Phoenix Suns and D’Antoni was the head coach. So there’s a new dynamic for the team now. A “wisened” coach who can now mentor the mentor.
Next: Evolution of Sixer Lineup