Brown gets contract as investigation goes on >>
PHILADELPHIA » Even as the 76ers were waiting for an independent report on their general manager’s alleged reckless tweeting, they officially re-committed Thursday to their head coach.
As had been reported, Brett Brown agreed to a three-year extension that will pay him through the 2021-2022 season. It was a move Bryan Colangelo publicly endorsed after the Sixers’ 52-win season.
Neither Colangelo nor Brown, however, was made available to the press.
“Brett has done a terrific job over the past several years building and cultivating a program, but the substantially positive growth in the win column these past two seasons has proven he is the right man to continue leading this team in our quest for an NBA championship,” Colangelo said in the statement. “I couldn’t be more thrilled for Brett, his family and the organization to be moving forward for several years to come.”
Oddly, Colangelo this week was connected in a report by the sports and pop culture website “The Ringer” to a Twitter account that criticized Brown and his postseason benching of Markelle Fultz. The Sixers have yet to reveal the results of their investigation on what they had termed “serious” allegations.
As for the business of resigning Brown, that was expected after the Sixers finished third in the Eastern Conference and won a playoff round before a 4-1 series loss to the Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals.
“I am especially grateful to my coaching staff and my players,” said Brown, also in a statement. “It takes a village. I feel a tremendous responsibility to owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer to help grow and lead our program. They have treated my family and me with integrity and care. They are great owners to work for. The city of Philadelphia deserves a parade and this evolution is all that is on my mind. I am excited to partner with Bryan Colangelo and Scott O’Neil to continuously strive for this elusive goal.”
Brown was the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for March and April, as the Sixers ended the regular season on a 16-game winning streak.
“Brett has done a remarkable job in helping build a family-like culture centered around player development, work ethic and a commitment to longterm winning,” owner Josh Harris said in a statement. “We made incredible strides this past season with 52 wins and a playoff run. With a dynamic young core and opportunities to further strengthen our team, the 76ers are wellpositioned for the future and we’re thrilled to reach this agreement with Brett to continue as our head coach.”
Brown has coached the Sixers since 2013-2014. In charge during a controversial rebuilding project that essentially required losing, his career record is 127-283.
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Sixers Joel Embiid and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot will play for “Team Africa” vs. “Team World” in the NBA’s Africa Game, Aug. 4 in Pretoria, South Africa.
Embiid is a native of Cameroon. Luwawu-Cabarrot, of France, has a parent from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The exhibition game will follow the 16th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa. The NBA and FIBA have operated the global basketball and community outreach program every year since 2001.
“I was fortunate to participate in Basketball Without Borders Africa first as a camper and then last year as a coach,” Embiid said, in a statement. “To play in the NBA’s third game in Africa is truly special to me, and I can’t wait to take the floor in front of our fans in Africa.”