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Philadelphia 76ers hire Mike D'Antoni as associate head coach

By The Sports Xchange
Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni coaches his team in the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 26, 2014. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 110-103. UPI/John Angelillo
Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni coaches his team in the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 26, 2014. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 110-103. UPI/John Angelillo | License Photo

The Philadelphia 76ers hired former NBA head coach Mike D'Antoni as associate head coach on Friday.

D'Antoni brings 25 years of coaching experience to the Sixers' staff, including 12 seasons as an NBA head coach with four teams.

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The 76ers and D'Antoni had been in discussions about his role on head coach Brett Brown's staff.

The move came after Brown agreed to a two-year extension last Friday that will carry him through the 2018-19 season and Jerry Colangelo was named chairman of basketball operations on Dec. 7. Colangelo also serves as an adviser to team ownership.

D'Antoni, 64, previously was head coach of the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. He has been out of coaching since stepping down from the Lakers following the 2013-14 season.

D'Antoni was head coach of the Lakers from 2012-2014 after four seasons at the helm for the Knicks (2008-2012), five seasons for the Suns (2003-08) and one season for the Nuggets (1998-99).

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D'Antoni has a 455-426 career record as an NBA head coach.

D'Antoni has ties to Colangelo, formerly the Suns owner, from their time in Phoenix. Colangelo also is the chairman of USA Basketball and D'Antoni has served on the U.S. Olympic coaching staff under head coach Mike Krzyzewski during the Team USA's gold medals in 2008 and 2012.

The 76ers own an NBA-worst 1-26 record.

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