There are a number of proven head coaches the 76ers could choose from to replace Doc Rivers.
There are also a few first-timers who could make sense, one being JJ Redick.
Not long after the Raptors moved on from Nick Nurse, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Redick interviewed for Toronto's head coaching job. Redick hasn't yet been connected to the 76ers, but BetOnline now has him as the betting favorite to become Philadelphia's next head coach.
If that sounds crazy, it shouldn't. Here's why Redick could make sense for the 76ers.
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JJ Redick's history with the 76ers
Redick isn't far removed from playing with the 76ers.
Redick signed with the 76ers as an unrestricted free agent in 2017. He spent two seasons with the franchise, starting in 133 of the 146 regular season games he appeared in while posting averages of 17.6 points on 40.7 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Redick had a great connection with both Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid during his time with the franchise, but the two-man game between him and Embiid was particularly potent.
Redick's time with the 76ers came to an end when he signed with the Pelicans as a free agent in 2019. When asked on his podcast in 2021 what the biggest regret was in his NBA career, he said he wishes there was a way he could've gone back to Philadelphia.
When Redick worked one of Philadelphia's games as a commentator in 2022, he received a standing ovation from the home crowd.
JJ Redick receives a standing ovation from the crowd in Philly! pic.twitter.com/xEpzR621B1
— NBA (@NBA) March 3, 2022
JJ Redick's relationship with Joel Embiid
By all accounts, it seems as though Redick and Embiid have a good relationship.
Redick told Embiid that he was the best player he had ever played with. That's some high praise considering Redick was teammates with a number of future Hall of Famers in his career, including Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard.
Embiid spoke highly of his time with Redick as well.
“I love playing with him,” Embiid once said. “I was telling him again the other day that I wish he was 24 years old so we could be here for 10, 15 years. But he’s old as s—, he won’t be here.”
Over the last few years, Redick has had Embiid on his podcast twice.
When Redick revealed that he voted for Giannis Antetokounmpo as the MVP of the 2022-23 season, he had a personal message for Embiid.
"Joel, I'm sorry," Redick said with a slight smile on his face. "I know you're going to be pissed. I still love you, OK?"
Does JJ Redick want to coach in the NBA?
Redick told Esquire's Josh Rosenberg in 2022 that he once thought that he'd never want to coach, but his mindset has changed.
"I think it probably started around the time I started calling games," he said. "Because you're back. You're a part of the experience. You're a part of the game. For me, that was probably the trigger point. Then I got randomly four unsolicited, "Do you want to coach? Do you want to join the staff?" [messages] from different teams. And truthfully, I considered two of them. Not just the Celtics—sorry, I considered another one.
"I just didn't feel like the timing was right. Maybe the timing will never be right. And maybe the media stuff ends up being a 20-to-30-year thing. I just know that what I'm doing right now feels like the right thing."
Redick revealed he was offered to join Joe Mazzulla's coaching staff on the Celtics, which he decided to pass on. He has since interviewed for Toronto's head coach opening.
