Eddie 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, they’ve had playoff experience for two years,” Jordan said. “Now it’s 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 haven’t won a playoff series since 2003, and Jordan is the team’s third coach since the start of last season and sixth in six years.