Now all this being said, it is absolutely the right decision to move on Brown as head coach. A new voice is needed in the locker room after an embarrassing sweep by the Celtics that sent the team packing from Orlando. Concerns with his X’s and O’s are still relevant as Brown has lacked the ability to draw plays and close out games, but the failure that occurred this postseason is not on Brown’s shoulders. Despite the mudslinging that will ensue as the front office will do their best to throw Brown under the bus, the demise of this Sixers team is mainly due to factors out of Brown’s control.
The Process was a time in Sixers basketball that carried such promise. Sam Hinkie was forced out largely due to Adam Silver and the NBA forcing their hand in this. Bryan Colangelo stepped in and only lasted from 2016-2018. He managed to make the genius move to trade up to the #1 pick and land Markelle Fultz and then was sent out of town after creating several burner accounts to defend his poor decision making. Alex Rucker and Ned Cohen were brought in by Colangelo and still make key decisions for the team. They hide in the shadows and are kept out of public scrutiny but are just as responsible (if not more) as the other names being thrown blame right now. Elton Brand was forced into the GM role this year and has proven not to be ready to fill those shoes, yet no one seems to know how much of a voice he truly has in decision making.
Brett Brown should be remembered fondly for his years here. He made a much more positive impact than any of the other names of guys who had a hand in The Process. Sitting through those painful years has ruined his coaching record (221-334) forever and it will be interesting to see how his reputation around the league will turn out. He is not Phil Jackson by any means, but there are far worse coaches out there than Brett Brown.
The criticism that will stick with Brown will likely be his ability to hold the team accountable. After his 3rd year in the league, Ben Simmons still refuses to shoot jump shots. The team would show up flat periodically which was evident in their poor away record this year. Brown wore it on his sleeve talking about how didn’t do a good enough job this year, but the fact of the matter is no one could have taken this team to a finals run. All in all, Brown should be remembered fondly for his time in Philly. It is certainly a low-point as a Sixers fan but the Sixers are a better organization due to Brown’s time here.
So as the Sixers look ahead to their uncertain future, don’t remember Brett for the disappointing season this year. Think back to the youthful time where the team won the 1st pick in the lottery and were able to draft Ben Simmons. Remember Brown jumping and screaming in his Bostralian accent as TJ McConnell hit a game-winning turnaround jumper over Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks.
Don’t forget about the promise and pure joy that was brought as Brown drew up a play to give Robert Covington a game-winning lay in after a terrible shooting slump. The Process has been such a fabled storyline for the Sixers. Brown coached 102 total players throughout his 7 years as the Sixers coach and made an impact on each one. What the final result will be is still to be determined but Brett Brown will be one of the names remembered the fondest in this era of Sixers basketball.
