The Philadelphia 76ers will be in need for another assistant coach and they have a veteran center on the roster who would be perfect for the job.
The Philadelphia 76ers will be in need a new assistant coach next season. This is due to the fact that the assistant coach Billy Lange is officially becoming the new head coach of Saint Joseph’s University immediately and has already left the Sixers. With the end of the season near, it’s unlikely that the team will try to hire someone else at the moment, but this offseason will be the time to fill the void.
One candidate that should be seriously considered by head coach Brett Brown and the team’s front office should be current player Amir Johnson. Johnson has played with the Sixers for this season and last. He’s been a solid veteran throughout his Philly tenure and was a solid rotational player during his first season with the club.
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He’s the last player in the NBA that was directly drafted out of high school, according to RealGM. He also has 13 seasons of experience under his belt. He’s played both front court positions throughout his career and has been through the recent 3-point evolution of the game which has changed the role of big men in the NBA.
Johnson has been a defensive and rebounding force during his career and has appeared to be a positive influence on the Sixers. Brown was quoted by saying the following after the big man won the NBA’s Hustle Award this past offseason, per Matt Haughton of NBCSPhilly.
"‘”Amir Johnson is a true professional and meant so much to our team and locker room this past season,…His work ethic and grit had a significant positive impact on our program and culture, and I couldn’t be happier that he’s been recognized with this award.”‘"
That sounds like a person that has ingrained themselves into the the team’s culture and identity. If Johnson had not regressed in his ability to play this season, then there would be a good chance of him playing for the Sixers for a third year next season. However, 13 seasons has began to take their toll on the big man, he’s even suited up for the Sixers G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, for two games this season.
It wouldn’t make sense to bring back a player who has seen a decrease in stats every year since the 2013-14 season. It would wastefully take up a roster spot, however it’s clear that Johnson has had a positive impact in the team’s locker room. It would make sense to bring him in as an assistant, especially with Lange leaving the franchise.
Johnson wouldn’t be the first NBA player to make a transition to a coaching job after they played. It wouldn’t be completely new territory for the Philadelphia 76ers either. Elton Brand retired with the club after the 2015-16 season and they brought him into a front office role and now he’s the franchise’s general manager.