Brett Brown gets extension from Sixers
Sam Hinkie announced today that coach Brett Brown has signed an extension to stay with the Sixers.
When general manager Sam Hinkie hired San Antonio assistant coach Brett Brown in August of 2013, it was a hiring like no other. Wins weren't expected – some may even say frowned upon – and bringing in a new style of play was only going to get wasted because of the roster turnaround anyway. Brown insisted on, and got, a four-year guaranteed deal and has probably undergone the most painful coaching duty in the history of sports in his 187-game run.
He has been rewarded for withstanding all the turmoil.
Hinkie announced Friday that the team had extended the contract of Brown, whose original contract was to expire at the end of next season. During his two-plus seasons at the helm, Brown has more than admirably overseen the players assembled for him compile a 38-149 record.
"Why wouldn't I want to stay here," asked Brown. "I see a lot of light with the draft picks and (Joel) Embiid and (Dario) Saric. I have a real connection to this city. It's blue collar. I like my 11 year-old son walking the streets from Philadelphia. I like my kids going through the Lower Merion school district.
"I believe we will (have a winning team in three years). I do believe that we will. It's part of my excitement to accept this. I see great things that can happen. My young guys give me juice. I love those young guys."
It's been a busy week for the front office as on Monday they hired longtime NBA executive Jerry Coangelo to help oversee the organization moving forward, along with Hinkie and managing partner Josh Harris. At his press conference in the very same room where the Brown extension was announced yesterday, Coangelo heaped praise upon the coach, saying: "I like Brett. I think he has done a heck of a job here despite the circumstances."
The hope is that the circumstances are changing in the near future, with potentially four first round draft picks in next year's draft and the team's hope of improved play from youngsters like Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel, along with the debut of others, such as Joel Embiid and Dario Saric.