The Philadelphia 76ers are adding a familiar voice to their head coach, their newest superstar and two young guards central to the franchise’s future.
Dallas Mavericks assistant Phil Handy is finalizing an agreement to join Nick Nurse’s coaching staff in Philadelphia, Andscape’s Marc J. Spears reported Friday.
Handy previously coached alongside Nurse during the Toronto Raptors’ 2018-19 championship season. He also worked extensively with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ run of four consecutive NBA Finals appearances.
Spears described Handy as a “great addition” for Nurse.
Handy brings three championship rings, six consecutive Finals appearances and a reputation as one of the NBA’s most respected player-development coaches. His move to Philadelphia comes after one season with Dallas, where he again worked with Irving.
For the Sixers, this is more than another name filling out the coaching staff. Handy arrives with relationships and experience that should give him immediate credibility inside a locker room facing championship expectations.
Phil Handy Reunites With LeBron James
Getty Player development coach Phil Handy and LeBron James are reunited again in Philadelphia. The 76ers are finalizing a deal to bring Handy from the Dallas Mavericks.
Handy first worked with James and Irving as a Cavaliers assistant from 2013 to 2018. Cleveland reached four consecutive Finals and won the 2016 championship after rallying from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors.
Handy later reunited with James on the Lakers’ staff in 2019. He was part of Frank Vogel’s staff when Los Angeles won the 2020 championship inside the NBA bubble and remained with the franchise through 2024.
His history with James gives Nurse an assistant who understands how to challenge, communicate with and build around the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
James, who will turn 42 during the upcoming season, does not need a coach to reinvent his game. The value lies in familiarity. Handy understands James’ preparation, preferred spots and postseason habits. He also knows what complementary players need to provide around him.
That could matter as Philadelphia attempts to fit James alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe.
Handy Could Help Maxey, Edgecombe Take Next Steps
Handy’s work with Irving and Austin Reaves makes his arrival particularly intriguing for Maxey and Edgecombe.
Irving developed into one of the league’s most polished ballhandlers and finishers while working with Handy in Cleveland. The two reunited in Dallas last season.
Handy also worked closely with Reaves during the guard’s rise from an undrafted prospect to a central part of the Lakers’ offense. Reaves entered the NBA without the pedigree of Los Angeles’ established stars, but developed into a confident secondary creator capable of initiating offense, attacking mismatches and performing in the playoffs.
Maxey is already an established star, but Handy’s detailed approach to footwork, ballhandling and finishing could help him continue expanding his game. Edgecombe, still early in his development, should benefit from a coach with a track record of helping perimeter players add skills and confidence.
Handy’s connection with Nurse predates their championship season in Toronto. Nurse coached Handy during their playing days with the Manchester Giants in England. Nearly two decades later, Handy joined Nurse’s first Raptors staff and helped Toronto win its first NBA title.
The Sixers do not lack star power. Their challenge is turning established stars and promising young guards into a cohesive championship team.
Handy has spent much of his career helping teams do exactly that.
76ers Add 3-Time NBA Champion Coach With Strong LeBron James Ties