PHILADELPHIA — Four months later, the Philadelphia 76ers have a new coach.
A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday the Sixers have hired San Antonio assistant Brett Brown to replace Doug Collins, who resigned in April.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move has not been officially announced.
New general manager Sam Hinkie took quite a while looking for a replacement before choosing Brown, who was part of three NBA title teams with San Antonio. The 52-year-old Brown was an assistant under Gregg Popovich since 2002. He also coached the Australian men’s national team from 2009-12, and played a key role in helping Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker develop into All-Stars with the Spurs.
Brown is the franchise’s 24th coach and eighth since Larry Brown resigned in 2003.
Brett Brown inherits a team completely rebuilding. Hinkie, who was hired away from Houston, traded All-Star guard Jrue Holiday to New Orleans on draft night for the rights to Kentucky center Nerlens Noel. Hinkie also drafted Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams with the 11th overall pick in the first round.
Collins stepped down after the Sixers went 34-48, a year after advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals. A season that began with promise after the acquisition of former All-Star center Andrew Bynum unraveled quickly, and Bynum never played a game in a Sixers uniform because of knee problems.
Collins left with one year remaining on his original four-year deal worth $4.5 million. He led the Sixers to the playoffs his first two seasons.
