The Philadelphia 76ers Fired coach Doc Rivers on Tuesday, the team announced.
The Sixers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the third straight season, losing 112-88 in Game 7 to Boston Celtics during the week.
The search for a new teacher is expected to include Mike BudenholzerSam Cassell, Mike D’Antoni, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel and Monty Williams, sources told ESPN.
Rivers posted a 154-82 (.653) record in his three seasons, including 54 wins in 2022-23 — the most since 2000-01. The Sixers were one of three teams in the top 10 in offensive and defensive efficiency, according to an ESPN Stats & Information survey.
“Doc is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, a future Hall of Famer, and someone I have the utmost respect for,” 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in a statement. “We are grateful for everything he has done in the three months he has been here and we thank him for his great contribution to our game. When we had the opportunity to reflect on our season, we saw some changes to achieve our goals of competing for the Championship.”
Philadelphia is associated with Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons among teams that have open positions for coaches.
Rivers, who posted his 16th winning season as a head coach, lost 10 times in 7 games, including five in a row. The defeat of the Celtics was also the ninth time that Rivers lost with the opportunity to reach the finals of the conference.
Now, Philadelphia is heading into the offseason not only looking to replace Rivers, but also in need of a move. James HardenUpcoming free agency.
After Sunday’s Game 7 in Boston, Harden was asked about the status of his relationship with Rivers, and whether he believes the coach should return for a fourth season.
In response, Harden simply said, “Our relationship is good.”
Harden has a player option next season worth $35.6 million, after taking a pay cut last summer to help Philadelphia sign former Rockets teammates. PJ Tucker and Daniel House.
If Harden opts out of his contract, he is eligible to sign a four-year, $202 million contract with another team, or a four-year, $210 million contract to remain in Philadelphia, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The 76ers are unable to sign Harden for the fifth season, despite having Bird’s rights, due to clause 38 in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.
If Harden leaves in free agency, Philadelphia will still have no room to replace him. Instead, the 76ers will have a cap hit of $12 million to try to add to his roster.
Harden came to Philadelphia in a blockbuster business in February 2022 after a difficult 13 months and Brooklyn Netsin the contract you sent Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andrew Drummond in Brooklyn.
This season, Harden scored 21 points and 10.7 assists Joel Embiid to win the league’s MVP award for the first time and join Embiid as the first teammates to win both the scoring and assist titles for a season since George Gervin and Johnny Moore. san antonio spurs in 1982.
Harden shot 37-for-61 (60.6%) in Philadelphia’s three wins against Boston, including a 45-point game with Embiid on the sideline in Game 1 and a 42-point outburst in Game 4, but 12-for-55 ( 21.8% ) in four losses, including going 3-for-11 in Game 7.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.