Hinkie steps down as 76ers’ general manager

The Sam Hinkie era in Philadelphia is over.

Hinkie stepped down from his positions as the 76ers’ general manager and president of basketball operations. The organization confirmed Hinkie’s departure with a statement on their website via managing general partner Josh Harris.

“This evening, Sam Hinkie notified the organization that he has elected to step down as President of Basketball Operations and General Manager,” Harris said in the statement. “While we are disappointed in Sam’s decision, we would like to sincerely thank him for his contributions over the past three seasons. There is no question that Sam’s work has put us in a very strong position to take advantage of numerous opportunities for an exciting future.”

Hinkie, a Marlow native and University of Oklahoma graduate, has been the Sixers GM since 2013, but the team has been one of the worst in the NBA in his tenure, as of Wednesday going just 47-195 in three seasons.

In December, the Sixers — in collaboration with NBA commissioner

Adam Silver — added USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo to their front office as chairman of basketball operations, a move that hinted at the end of Hinkie’s role as leader of the rebuilding effort in Philadelphia. The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Colangelo’s son, Bryan, will take over as general manager after Hinkie “refused to accept another marginalization of his power.” Bryan Colangelo is a twotime NBA Executive of the Year, winning the award as a general manager in Phoenix and Toronto.

ESPN obtained a 13-page letter Hinkie wrote to the members of the Sixers’ ownership group.

“... Given all the changes to our organization, I no longer have the confidence that I can make good decisions on behalf of investors in the Sixers,” Hinkie said in part of the letter. “So I should step down. And I have.”

SLOAN SAYS HE HAS PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Jerry Sloan

Hall of Famer said Wednesday that he has Parkinson’s disease and a form of dementia.

The 74-year-old Sloan, who coached the Utah Jazz from 1988 to 2011, told The Salt Lake Tribune in an interview Wednesday that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia last fall.

He said he decided to go public about his illness because the Parkinson’s symptoms have become noticeable. Symptoms include tremors and a hushed voice. Lewy body dementia is a neurological disorder whose symptoms include difficulty with memory and problem solving.

Sloan was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. He currently holds the title of senior basketball adviser with the Jazz and regularly attends games.

Sloan played 11 years in the NBA, including 10 with the Chicago Bulls. He was a two-time All-Star and was selected to the first-team all-defensive team four times and to the second team twice.

Sloan coached four years with the Bulls, the first as an assistant, after a knee injury forced him to retire. The Bulls retired his jersey in 1978.

He joined the Jazz as an assistant coach in 1985, moved to the lead spot in 1988 and held the head coaching position for 23 seasons.

He finished with the third-most wins in NBA history (1,221) and the sixth-best winning rate (60.3).