Skip to content
Sixers
Link copied to clipboard

Luukko Denies Predetermined Decision On Jordan

The chief operating officer and president of Comcast-Spectacor says that there has not been a predetermined decision on the status of 76ers coach Eddie Jordan.

Peter Luukko, the chief operating officer and president of Comcast-Spectacor, told the Daily News this morning that the company has not made a predetermined decision to fire 76ers coach Eddie Jordan.

Luukko, in essence, denied a report in the Inquirer saying that a decision has already been made about the Sixers' first-year coach.

Jordan is holding a contract believed to be for four years, with the first three guaranteed.

''No, we haven't,'' Luukko said. ''We have not done any of that. I've had a lot of people telling me things, and I'm getting calls, but we have not made a predetermined decision.''

The Sixers are 23-40 and have lost six of their last seven games going in to tonight's game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Wachovia Center.

Luukko was upset that today's initial report indicated that the Sixers did not yet change coaches because the company had already fired Flyers coach John Stevens earlier in the hockey season.

''John Stevens is a good man; he is not a factor in any of this,'' Luukko said.

A source familiar with the Sixers' situation said that management was more likely to make a coaching change after evaluating things at the end of the season rather than try and finish with an interim coach.

''That would only change if the wheels really fell off,'' the source said.

The source also said that, at this point, management seemed unsure about who to pursue as the next coach. One possibility became available Tuesday when Mike Dunleavy, who had already stepped down as coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, was also relieved of his duties as general manager. There will also be the inevitable speculation about possibly bringing back Larry Brown if he does not remain with the Bobcats; there has already been speculation linking Brown to the Clippers.

''We expected better results from the team,'' Luukko said, pointing out that the Sixers won 41 games last season under Maurice Cheeks and interim coach Tony DiLeo.

''The players seem confused, very confused,'' the source said.