Sixers promote Jameer Nelson to executive vice president of basketball operations
Nelson will hold the front office’s No. 2 position under Mike Gansey, while Elton Brand is expected to transition to a new role and title.
Jameer Nelson has been promoted to the 76ers’ executive vice president of basketball operations, The Inquirer confirmed Sunday afternoon.
Nelson, the former St. Joseph’s star and 14-year NBA player, had been the organization’s assistant general manager. He will hold the front office’s No. 2 position under new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, the former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager. Gansey will be formally introduced during a news conference Monday morning at the Sixers’ facility in Camden.
Elton Brand, who held that No. 2 position under former lead executive Daryl Morey and, before that, was the top front-office decision-maker, will not move forward as the Sixers’ general manager, the Inquirer confirmed. Brand, a 17-year NBA veteran who played five seasons with the Sixers, will instead transition to a new role and title, the Inquirer confirmed.
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Bob Myers, the Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment president who spearheaded the search for the Sixers’ new lead executive, was noncommittal when asked during a May 14 news conference about Brand’s candidacy for the upcoming lead hire.
“I’m going to talk to Elton, get his thoughts on things,” said Myers, the former lead executive during the Golden State Warriors dynasty. “Figure out what we think is best. But we haven’t gotten to that level of detail with any of that yet.”
Nelson, a Chester native, has risen up the front office ranks following his playing career. He previously was the general manager of the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats before being promoted to assistant general manager with the Sixers last year.
It has been Nelson’s goal to ascend to a team’s lead front-office position, telling The Inquirer in 2024, “I know, at some point, I’m going to be” in such a role.
“I always had to walk into the door, observe, and find out where I can lead and help,” Nelson added during that conversation. “I’m not a guy that’s going to come in and pound my chest. I’m not the loud speaker. But if there’s something I need to say, I’ll say it. I’ll get it off my chest in the right way.”
Prosper Karangwa, who also holds an assistant general manager title, also has agreed to a multiyear contract extension to remain with the Sixers, The Inquirer confirmed. He also is a former GM of the Delaware Blue Coats and has a scouting background. He had reportedly drawn interest from other teams this offseason.
