Sixers receive permission to interview Spurs assistant Brett Brown for head-coaching job
After an interview with the Denver Nuggets that moved San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Brett Brown's candidacy into strong contention for the franchise's head coaching job, the Philadelphia 76ers have sought and received permission to discuss their coaching opening with Brown, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Brown met with Nuggets officials on Sunday and emerged as a significant candidate in the team's search process, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
It is immediately unclear when Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie will meet with Brown. The Sixers have been moving deliberately on their coaching search and have several candidates in play as possibilities.
The Nuggets are expected to offer their coaching job before Thursday's NBA draft, choosing from a pool that includes Brown, Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, former Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro and Nuggets assistant Melvin Hunt.
Brown has been a bench assistant coach under Gregg Popovich with San Antonio for the past seven years. He joined the Spurs for a second time in 2001.
With the loss of assistant coach Mike Budenholzer to the Atlanta Hawks' coaching job, Brown has been expected to be promoted to Popovich's top assistant.
Brown was the Australian national coach and led the Aussies to a strong showing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Brown coached in the Australian National Basketball League for 14 seasons.
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