The 76ers announced Tuesday that they fired coach Doc Rivers after the team’s Game 7 loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals and, naturally, Philadelphia fans have already made wishlists for who they want their next coach to be. Fans are shooting for the stars—even the retired ones.
Former Villanova coach Jay Wright started trending Tuesday morning on Twitter due to the surge of 76ers fans trying to manifest the Hall of Fame coach joining the Philadelphia sideline. Wright won two national titles with the Philadelphia university, but retired in 2022.
He’s now a college basketball analyst for CBS and has never coached in the NBA before. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, coaches with professional pedigree like Mike Budenholzer, Sam Cassell, Mike D’Antoni, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel and Monty Williams will be considered for the job.
Here are some of the fans and media members on Twitter calling for Wright to come out of retirement and help lead the 76ers to their first title since 1983:
Two words, Philly. Jay Wright.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) May 16, 2023
My third choice for the Sixers coaching job is Jay Wright. Now he’s never openly said he’d be open for the job, but I’d be greatly interested in him. pic.twitter.com/Dbwh3j4AtF
— Aidan LaPorta (@aidanlaporta69) May 16, 2023
Josh Harris redeeming himself and convincing Jay Wright to coach the Sixers pic.twitter.com/vGFfssQyIE
— Will Bullitt (@wbullitt) May 16, 2023
My completely unrealistic Sixers coaching wishlist would be
— Will Rucker (@Will_Rucker3_AD) May 16, 2023
1 Dawn Staley
2 Jay Wright
3 Nick Nurse
4 Jerry Stackhouse
What about Jay Wright https://t.co/48mTHe0Ixk
— Mike (@sixersjumper) May 16, 2023
Jay Wright does not and should not want this train wreck of a situation....
— Phil Stiefel (@Beardaknowledge) May 16, 2023
BUT They should 100% ask https://t.co/We9akQ5ysC
In order of preference:
— Kevin Kinkead (@Kevin_Kinkead) May 16, 2023
1. Jay Wright
2. Nick Nurse
3. Monty Williams and Budenholzer tie
5. Sam Cassell
6. Frank Vogel
7. Mike D'Antoni
