Philadelphia 76ers are looking for a new head coach. Here are some options.
After losing in the second round of the NBA playoffs for the third straight season, the Philadelphia 76ers fired head coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers.
With that decision in the team's rear-view mirror, the question becomes who's next? According to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sixers search will including the following candidates: Mike Budenholzer, Sam Cassell, Mike D'Antoni, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel and Monty Williams.
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
So, who are these guys? Here's a look at each person – and remember, there could be many other options.
Mike Budenholzer
Budenholzer has coached in the NBA for 27 seasons − 17 as an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs. He received his first head coaching job in 2013 with the Atlanta Hawks. He was 213-197 (.520) with the Hawks, leading them to the playoffs four of his five seasons there. He was named NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Hawks to a 60-22 record in 2015.
More: Philadelphia 76ers fire head coach Doc Rivers after NBA playoff loss
After being fired by the Hawks, he was named head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. In five seasons with the Bucks, he was 271-120 (.693) and 39-26 (.600) in the playoffs. Milwaukee won the NBA title in 2021. He was fired by the Bucks after they earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference this season, but lost in the opening round of the playoffs to the Miami Heat.
Sam Cassell
Cassell has been an assistant coach for 14 seasons, most recently with the 76ers. He was an assistant on Flip Saunders' Washington Wizards staff starting in 2008. He joined Doc Rivers' staff with the Los Angels Clippers in 2014 and moved with Rivers to the Sixers in 2020.
During his playing career, Cassell helped lead the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995. He also helped the Boston Celtics win the NBA title in 2008. In addition, he helped the Milwaukee Bucks to the Eastern Conference finals (2001) and the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals (2004).
Mike D'Antoni
D'Antoni has been a head coach for 16 seasons (672-527, .560). He was NBA Coach of the Year in 2005 after leading the Phoenix Suns to a 62-20 record. The Suns lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals that season. The Suns lost in the conference finals the next season (2005-06) to the Dallas Mavericks and then lost to the Spurs in the 2006-07 playoffs' second round. He's also coached for the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. With Houston, he led the Rockets to the Western Conference finals in 2018, but lost to the Golden State Warriors.
As a player, D'Antoni played in the NBA and ABA for five years, averaging 3.4 points per game.
Nick Nurse
Nurse has been an NBA coach for 10 seasons − five as an assistant − with the Toronto Raptors. He has a 227-163 (.582) regular season record and 25-16 (.610) in the postseason. He's led the Raptors to the playoffs three times, including his first season in 2019 when Toronto won the NBA title. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2020. He was fired by the Raptors in April after the Raptors missed the playoffs with a 41-41 record.
Frank Vogel
Vogel has been a head coach for 11 seasons. He took over the Indiana Pacers during the 2010-2011 season. He coached the Pacers for six seasons (250-181), taking them to the playoffs five times. He coached Orlando for two seasons (54-110), before being hired by the Los Angels Lakers. Vogel won the 2019-2020 NBA title, leading the LeBron James-led Lakers to a 52-19 record. The Lakers made the playoffs the next season, before missing the playoffs in 2022. Vogel was fired after the 2021-2022 season.
Vogel's overall record is 431-389 (.526) during the regular season and 49-39 (.557) in the playoffs.
Monty Williams
Williams has been a head coach for nine seasons. He was fired as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns after the 2022-2023 season. The Suns were 45-37, made the playoffs and lost in the conference semifinals to the Denver Nuggets. He led the Suns to the 2021 NBA finals where they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2022 after leading the Suns to a 64-18 record.
He was also the head coach for New Orleans, taking them to the playoffs twice. Overall, his coaching record is 367-336 (.522) during the regular season and 29-27 (.518) in the playoffs.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Philadelphia 76ers coaching search around NBA begins post-Doc Rivers
