Posted: Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 4:51 PM | 34 comments |
 

Larry Brown denies reported return to Sixers
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Larry Brown all but scoffed at a New York Post report saying he would be returning to the 76ers to take control “from top to bottom.’’

Brown, the Charlotte Bobcats coach, told the Daily News the report was "old news." Speculation is rife that that the Sixers will fire coach Eddie Jordan, possibly as soon as Thursday, even though Jordan has two years remaining on his contract.

"I can’t speculate on what the Sixers will do, but I’m not coaching anywhere else," Brown said. ‘’I love (new Bobcats owner) Michael Jordan. He gave me a chance even after the (bad) experience I had in New York. I’ve been happy. My goal is for us to do well in these playoffs. It’s been great for us. We’ve never been to the playoffs.’’

Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko said the Sixers have not contacted anyone about the impending coaching vacancy.

"We have had no discussions with anyone. That would be tampering," Luukko said. "We don't need any trouble."

When Jordan took control of the Bobcats, he said, "I don’t want Larry to leave. I'd like to keep Larry here. But I totally understand his relationship, with what he feels from a husband-wife scenario."

Brown’s wife, Shelly and their children have stayed in the Philadelphia suburbs while Brown has worked in Charlotte.

‘’I’d do everything I can to keep him here,’’ Jordan said then. ‘’I want him here. But if for family reasons or Shelly’s reasons he feels like he’s got to do something else, what else can I do? I’m going to stay away from that one.’’

Brown, also with two years remaining on his contract, said he was uncomfortable with the whole story since, as of this moment, the Sixers have a coach, and president/general manager Ed Stefanski remains under contract. There were reports earlier today that Stefanski, who also has two years remaining on his contract, met with upper management and ownership; details of that meeting have not been made public.

*

Read more in tomorrow's Daily News.

 
Posted by Phil Jasner @ 4:51 PM  Permalink | 34 comments
34
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  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:13 PM, 04/13/2010
    No, I've grown very tired of his act. Try and turn around a struggling franchise. Jettison players who are good but don't fit his mold (ala Larry Hughes, Stackhouse)then overachieve with crappy players. Complain because you dn't have say so over personnel, have a public feud with the GM, get fired then sue for wages.
    — WCPhan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:22 PM, 04/13/2010
    Are you guys nuts? I'd say he's a "slightly" better coach than Eddie Jordan...look at what he's done just about EVERYWHERE he's been--including here. He's one of the best basketball coaches around.
    — reils
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:29 PM, 04/13/2010
    that 2001 team was a bunch of bums....and he took them to the NBA finals with only 1 good player.....
    — jamarder
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:45 PM, 04/13/2010
    As a former season ticketholder for 7 years, I am a huge Sixers fan and have followed the situation very closely. My guess: the Sixers will dismiss both Stefanski and Jordan on Thursday. Don't be surprised if you see Billy King back here in a few weeks as President / GM with Dileo as his top assistant. This was the plan that was progressing until Lukko convinced Snider to pull the plug on Billy back in Dec '07. Snider's a loyal guy (to a major fault) - look at the history with Clarke and Holmgren on the Flyers' side. Don't be surprised to see the same on Sixers' side, especially since those two are partners in business ventures outside of basketball.
    — Dean1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:47 PM, 04/13/2010
    He's BAAAAACK! Almost. And I'll be glad to have him, particularly after the Eds coached and managed this team like Mr. Ed.
    — iceman
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:57 PM, 04/13/2010
    It took 2 guys to write this article?
    — jibberjabber
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:16 PM, 04/13/2010
    When he was here, Brown has personnel control. He hand picked Billy King and told Billy who to go get. When he left, because he burned out, everything started falling apart. If he does come back this time, give him Luukko's job. That way he will not burn out as the coach and have total control of the team from top to bottom. I don't think that Michael J will match this offer. He can then hand pick a coach and GM and pull the strings. Snider shouldn't mind since he pays more attention to the Flyers anyway. Part of Brown's compensation package should be in Comcast stock. That way he can be an owner -- more shares for more years. I bet that he makes a effort to bring Cheeks or Hollins back here as the coach. I think that the fans now can see that it wasn't all Maurice's fault.
    — dross
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:18 PM, 04/13/2010
    Sixers need a coach that can relate to young players, because that is all they will have. Blow it up, draft and sign a couple good young players. Be truthful with the fans thay they are going to build from the bottom up, but they are going with players who want to play and not sulk about minutes.
    — mike l
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:32 PM, 04/13/2010
    Fire the two Ed's, dumb and dumber!
    — joeace
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:35 PM, 04/13/2010
    How come the NY Post broke this story?
    — vincent59
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:52 PM, 04/13/2010
    If Lyin' Larry is denying this, it's almost certain to happen. A telling sign that this little weasel is lying is when his lips move. Of course he'll first have to negotiate a $40,000,000 buyout clause so when he bails out he can steal that money, which is his history just about eveywhere he's been. BTW he has one NCAA title which he cheated to get ( Kansas went on probation immediately afterward while The Liar left town ) and one ready made title with the Pistons in about a hundred year coaching career.
    — baabyrrej


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About Bob Cooney
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.

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