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76ers Hire Phil Handy as Assistant Coach

8/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Philadelphia 76ers hired Phil Handy as an assistant coach, per ESPN's Marc Spears.
Handy won NBA titles with the Cavaliers (2016) and Raptors (2019).
He served as a front-of-bench assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2019 to 2024, helping them capture the 2020 championship.
After the Lakers dismissed head coach Darvin Ham in 2024, Handy left the team.

History

Historical Context

In 1989 Phil Jackson was promoted to head coach of the Chicago Bulls, guiding Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen to six NBA titles between 1991 and 1998. The Bulls' model of elevating an assistant coach to lead a star-laden roster set a precedent that the Philadelphia 76ers echoed in 2024 by hiring former assistant Phil Handy to revitalize their franchise.

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Story summary

The Philadelphia 76ers hired Phil Handy as an assistant coach, per ESPN's Marc Spears.
Handy won NBA titles with the Cavaliers (2016) and Raptors (2019).
He served as a front-of-bench assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2019 to 2024, helping them capture the 2020 championship.
After the Lakers dismissed head coach Darvin Ham in 2024, Handy left the team.

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