The 2023 offseason is certain to be one of change for the Philadelphia 76ers; that much has already been seen. After dismissing head coach Doc Rivers, the Sixers brought in former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. Not long after, it was reported that Sam Cassell, who was the lead assistant coach on Doc Rivers’ staff last season, would be leaving Philadelphia to join Joe Mazzulla’s staff with the Boston Celtics. It won’t stop with Rivers and Cassell, though, as now another coach is expected to be on his way out of town.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, Philadelphia 76ers’ assistant coach Dan Burke is expected to join the Detroit Piston’s coaching staff under former Sixers assistant Monty Williams.
Burke first came to the Sixers back in 2020 as an assistant under Doc Rivers. Having spent the previous 23 years with the Indiana Pacers organization. In that time, Burke became known for his defensive acumen and coaching up some of the league’s most impressive defenders, from the player now known as Metta Sandiford-Artest, to Roy Hibbert, to Paul George and, most recently, Myles Turner. Burke has shown a special ability to get the most out of his players defensively, and now he will have a turn to do the very same with the Pistons.
Players like James Wiseman, Jalen Duren, and Isaiah Stewart figure to be among those that Burke will work particularly close with, but Detroit has themselves an assistant who will make sure to get the most of their squad defensively from top to bottom.
The Sixers, who hold the fifth-best defensive rating since Burke first joined the staff, will have quite the hole to fill without their now-former assistant. New head coach Nick Nurse is expected to keep the team’s defense among the league’s best, but he will have to round out his staff with other bright defensive minds to ensure that becomes a reality.
