Report: Sixers have permission to interview Spurs assistant

The 76ers asked for and received permission to interview San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Brett Brown,  according to Adrian Wojnarowski of the Yahoo! Sports.

The report said it is unclear when Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie will meet with Brown for the position. But one thing is for sure, he better do it quickly.

Brown, who grew up in Maine, is also a strong candidate for the Denver Nuggets coaching job. The Nuggets are expected to make their coaching decision this week.

Brown has been with the Spurs since July, 2002 and moved to the bench as an assistant coach before the start of the 2006-07 season. Prior to going to San Antonio, he coached 14 seasons - nine as a head coach - in the Australian  National Basketball League.

Brown is the former head coach of the Australian national team, leading the Aussies to a seventh-place finish in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The Sixers are looking for a replacement for Doug Collins, who stepped down on April 18. Assistants David Fizdale (Heat), Michael Curry (Sixers) and Melvin Hunt (Nuggets), and Rockets assistants Chris Finch and Kelvin Sampson are other reported potential candidates for the Sixers job.