Report: Brett Brown to return as 76ers head coach next season
Despite their second consecutive second-round playoff loss on Sunday, the Philadelphia 76ers are sticking with Brett Brown.
Brown will return to coach the 76ers again next season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He reportedly had a lengthy meeting with managing partner Josh Harris and general manager Elton Brand to discuss offseason priorities on Monday, too.
The 76ers fell to the Toronto Raptors 92-90 on Sunday in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series after Kawhi Leonard drilled an insane game-winning buzzer-beater at Scotiabank Arena.
Before the game on Saturday, rumors swirled that Philadelphia’s front office was planning to part ways with Brown if he didn’t lead the 76ers to the NBA Finals — something management felt they were capable of after acquiring both Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris before the trade deadline. Brown reportedly had “little chance of surviving a second-round exit.”
The 76ers haven’t been to the NBA Finals since the 2000-01 season. Philadelphia, though, is apparently giving Brown at least one more year to reach that goal.
Multiple 76ers players defended Brown on Monday after hearing rumors he might be fired, too, including star Joel Embiid.
“I heard a lot of these rumors and stuff. I just thought it was bulls---,” Embiid said, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. “He’s done a fantastic job. He’s been there through everything, and then this year I think he grew even more as a coach. It’s hard when you've got five guys that can score the ball and that can do a lot of things on the basketball court. It’s hard to put it together.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to the players. I don’t think he should have anything to worry about. He’s an amazing coach, better person. Obviously I’ve got a lot of love for him. If there was someone to blame, put it all on me.”
Today, Joel Embiid gave a passionate plea for Brett Brown to remain head coach. Tonight, @wojeson reports Brown’s job is indeed safe. @ScottiePippen & @RJeff34 with some great stuff here on what’s going on in Philly. pic.twitter.com/QSfgMGaDUs
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 14, 2019
Brown has compiled a 178-314 record over six seasons with the franchise, though deserves credit for bringing the 76ers back to relevance from the bottom of the NBA. Philadelphia only won more than 20 games once during Brown’s first four years with the organization, but has won more than 50 games in each of the past two seasons while reaching the postseason for the first time since 2012.
The 58-year-old is currently under contract through the 2021-22 season, and is reportedly owed nearly $15 million next season.
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