Larry Brown on coaching Sixers: 'hypothetical'

Former 76ers coach Larry Brown this morning threw cold water on a report out of New York that suggested on Tuesday that Brown has been contacted by the team about its vacant coaching job.

Appearing as a guest on 97.5 The Fanatic with Tony Bruno and Harry Mayes, Brown said that the Sixers have not contacted him about the job.  The report, citing sources close to Brown, first appeared on SNY.tv's blog (Adam Zagoria).

Presently the coach of the men's basketball team at SMU, Brown, who also linked to the coaching jobs in Brooklyn and with the Los Angeles Clippers, said that any connection between him and any NBA team right now was 'hypothetical.'

"I love what I'm doing," said Brown, who coached the Sixers from 1997-2003, leading them to the NBA Finals in 2001. "But I'm in a situation where I think I can help young people. But I don't ever want to get back into coaching at the professional level unless I have a great relationship with the ownership and people let me share the knowledge I have learned and work with young people that have the same values that I have."

The biggest reason that Brown – who still owns a home on the Main Line – probably would not come back to the Sixers is that he was very disappointed with the firing of Tony DiLeo. DiLeo was fired from his general manager's post last month after initiating the coaching search. He was replaced by Sam Hinkie, the team's president of basketball operations and general manager.

"They have new ownership," Brown said. "I think when Tony was let go I don't think that they would have any interest in somebody like me. I love the team, I love the city. I have always felt that if there was any way I could help as a resource because of the way I was treated I would love to do that. But I think there are probably a lot of great options out there for them."