The 76ers threw their name into a crowded coaching carousel Tuesday morning, reportedly dismissing coach Doc Rivers after three seasons. While Rivers was successful in the regular season, he couldn't get Philadelphia over the hump and into the conference finals for the first time since 2001.
To wit, the names the 76ers reportedly have in mind for their coaching vacancy include three former NBA champions.
According to a Tuesday morning report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Philadelphia’s search for a new leader will include every NBA champion coach from 2019 to ’21—former Raptors coach Nick Nurse, former Lakers coach Frank Vogel, and former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer.
The Sixers’ search for a new coach is expected to include Mike Budenholzer, Sam Cassell, Mike D’Antoni, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel and Monty Williams, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 16, 2023
Vogel has been out of work since Los Angeles fired him on April 11, 2022. Nurse and Budenholzer were dismissed from their most recent positions on April 21 and May 4, 2023, respectively.
Other candidates reportedly include 76ers assistant coach Sam Cassell, longtime head coach Mike D’Antoni (most recently with the Rockets), and former Suns coach Monty Williams. Williams, like Rivers, was shown the door by Phoenix after losing in the conference semifinals.
