Report: Avery Johnson to interview with Sixers
In addition to major free agency decisions this summer, the Philadelphia 76ers have a coaching position to fill on Brett Brown's staff following the departure of Monty Williams to the Phoenix Suns.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, former NBA head coach Avery Johnson is interviewing with the Sixers for the open spot alongside Brett Brown on the bench.
Johnson, 54, has not coached in the NBA since the 2012-13 season. He's spent the last four years as the head coach of the University of Alabama in the SEC, compiling a 75-62 record with one NCAA tournament appearance.
Prior to joining Alabama, Johnson made NBA head coaching stops with the Nets and Mavericks. In 6+ seasons as a head coach, Johnson went 254-186 with four playoff appearances, one resulting in a Western Conference Championship in 2005-06. He was named NBA Coach of the Year for that season with Dallas. Overall in the postseason, Johnson has a 23-24 mark.
Johnson was relieved of his duties in Dallas following the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, a year that saw the Mavericks get bounced in the first round for the second straight year.
After two years of work as an analyst on ESPN, he went on to coach the Nets for two seasons before the team moved to Brooklyn. After beginning the 2012-13 season 14-14, Johnson was fired by the Nets.
Johnson re-joined ESPN until April 2015, when he was hired by the University of Alabama. The Tide lost in the first round of the N.I.T. Tournament in 2019, leading Alabama and Johnson to mutually part ways.
A native of New Orleans, Johnson played in the NBA from 1988-2004, a total of 1,054 games.
Brandon Apter is a Sixers writer for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on Twitter @bapter23.