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76ers Rumors: Former Alabama HC Avery Johnson to Interview for Assistant Job
June 4, 2019
The Philadelphia 76ers may already have a replacement in mind for former assistant coach Monty Williams.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the team is interviewing former Alabama Crimson Tide, Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson for Brett Brown's staff.
Johnson, 54, spent 16 seasons as an NBA point guard, winning a title in the 1998-99 season with the San Antonio Spurs. He then transitioned into coaching after his playing days, serving as the head coach of the Mavericks (2004-05 to 2007-08) and Nets (2010-11 to 2012-13). He reached the postseason four times in his NBA coaching career and led the Mavs to an NBA title in the 2005-06 season.
He then spent four seasons as the head coach at Alabama, going 75-62 overall. His Crimson Tide teams only reached one NCAA tournament, however, and he and Alabama agreed to mutually part ways following the 2018-19 campaign.
As for the Sixers, being an assistant under Brett Brown has translated into head coaching opportunities for quite a few coaches in recent years. Last offseason, Lloyd Pierce was hired as the Atlanta Hawks head coach, while Saint Joseph's hired Billy Lange as its head coach in March.
And this offseason, the Phoenix Suns hired Monty Williams, who spent one year as an assistant under Brown.
Of course, filling out Brown's staff won't be the main point of intrigue for the Sixers this summer, with players such as Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and JJ Redick all set to hit free agency. The Sixers took the Toronto Raptors to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals after having a brief window to incorporate Butler and Harris with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
That big four looks capable of being a true title contender if they're brought back next season, making this the biggest summer for the Sixers in quite some time.