76ers introduce Eddie Jordan as coach
June 2nd, 2009 Posted in NBA basketball newsEddie Jordan had been linked to the Philadelphia 76ers coaching job since December.
He was friends with team president Ed Stefanski from their days together in New Jersey, making him a natural contender to fill the first seat on the bench.
It just took Jordan until May to get the job.
The former Wizards and Kings coach was introduced in Philadelphia on Monday with a promise that his Princeton offense can turn the Sixers into Eastern Conference contenders.
This team has a good core group, has future stars in the waiting, theyve had playoff experience for two years, Jordan said. Now its time to go uptown.
The Sixers have been stuck in neutral ever since Allen Iverson led them to the NBA finals in 2001. Philadelphia went 41-41 this season and was eliminated in the first round by Eastern Conference champion Orlando.
The Sixers havent won a playoff series since 2003, and Jordan is the teams third coach since the start of last season and sixth in six years.
His three-year contract should bring a dose of stability to a franchise with a promising nucleus of Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young. Orlando, Cleveland and Boston all won playoff rounds this year with superstar players leading the way. Iguodala has never made an All-Star team and Brand has missed most of the last two seasons.
Jordan has faith a recovering Brand and a blossoming Iguodala can make the Sixers better in a hurry.
I think we have two superstars already and youll see that in the next season, Jordan said. Youll see young players, still a relatively young team, become better.
The job has been open since Tony DiLeo stepped down on May 11 and returned to the front office. DiLeo took over in December for the fired Maurice Cheeks with the Sixers at 9-14.
Immediately, speculation turned to Jordan.
I thought it was a little unfair, but I dont think Ed mentioned my name. It was everybody else, he said. I wasnt interested at the time.
Following seven months of unemployment after Washington fired him after a 1-10 start, Jordan was ready to talk with Stefanski. Two days after DiLeo stepped down, Stefanski and Jordan had their first lengthy conversation.
Anticipating a vacancy, Jordan scouted the Sixers from home on TV this season.
I paid maybe a little more attention to it, yeah, he said.
Jordan emerged as the winner among a group of candidates that included Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, Mavericks assistant Dwane Casey and Sixers scout Chris Ford.
The Sixers also interviewed Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis and spoke with Villanova coach Jay Wright.
Stefanski insisted he kept his mind open during the nearly three-week search.
There was no Eddie Jordan was going to be the coach and nobody else, Stefanski said.
Jordan is 230-288 with the Wizards and Sacramento Kings. In 2004-05 the Wizards won 45 games and a round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Hes not exactly the kind of hire that would energize a lukewarm fanbase.
You cant make people happy, Stefanski said. I dont know if I could ask the logo, Jerry West, or Pat Riley to come, I think the city I was born and raised in is going to find something wrong with them.
Jordan said former Wizards assistant Mike OKoren and Sixers assistant Aaron McKie will likely join him on staff.
He plans will turn the Sixers into winners with his Princeton offense filled with backdoor cuts and sharp passing.
If youre a basketball player with a basketball IQ, it will be easy to learn, Jordan said.
He won over Sixers management with a four-hour chalk talk portion of his second interview when he explained how each Sixer would fit in his system. Stefanski hoped that will include unrestricted free-agent point guard Andre Miller. With Brand, Marreese Speights, and Thaddeus Young in the frontcourt, erratic center Samuel Daelmbert might not be in the plans if he cant quickly adjust to the new scheme.
If it doesnt happen, then you have other alternatives – he cant play, Jordan said. He may be just a spot player. If he doesnt accept that, then there are other alternatives.
Iguodala, guard Willie Green and center Jason Smith were on hand and threw their support behind Jordan.
Theres a formula for each team to win and were going to find our formula, Jordan said.
