Mike D’Antoni reportedly hired as 76ers’ associate head coach

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the hiring of D’Antoni on Thursday night, citing two league sources. Brown was given an extension last week, making it unlikely D’Antoni would usurp him. Colangelo also is the chairman of USA Basketball and D’Antoni has served on the U.S. Olympic coaching staff under head coach Mike Krzyzewski during the Team USA’s gold medals in 2008 and 2012. He has ties to Colangelo from their time in Phoenix, where Colangelo was the Suns’ owner. He has been out of coaching since stepping down from the Lakers following the 2013-14 season, having compiled a 455-426 career record.

Brown said D’Antoni had been in Philadelphia earlier in the week but returned home to “get his life in order”.

While that hasn’t happened on the roster yet, the coaching staff is in line to gain a ton of experience.

“We started sharing names, and he mentioned the name Mike D’Antoni. I think that it’s going to be on me and I think he will make me better”. “I think it’s a great situation for Philly and for (Coach) Brett Brown. That’s a hell of a name, ‘” Brown said. I come into this with just a very excited mind to tap in. His high-powered “seven seconds or less” offense revolutionized the game.

D’Antoni went 253-136 in five seasons with the Suns, reaching the Western Conference finals in 2005 and ’06. But he didn’t achieve the same results with the Knicks and Lakers.

D’Antoni is joining a 76ers team that is now 1-26 and is on pace to become the worst team in National Basketball Association history.

Brown said the Sixers spent several days recruiting D’Antoni.