76ers News: Nick Nurse Adds Raptors Assistant to Staff

Nick Nurse and the 76ers added a former Raptors assistant to the staff.

The Philadelphia 76ers are bringing in a Toronto Raptors assistant. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Rico Hines is officially set to join Nick Nurse’s coaching staff in Philadelphia after reports hinted that could be the case last week.

Since 2006, Hines has held several different positions at different levels of the game. When Hines got his start in the NBA, he was an assistant on the Golden State Warriors’ staff, working under Don Nelson. 

After spending four seasons with the Warriors, Hines took his coaching talents to the NCAA level, becoming an assistant under Steve Lavin at St. John’s. After a five-year run at the collegiate level, Hines started working in the NBA G League in 2016.

Last season, Hines linked up with Nick Nurse in Toronto. As Nurse approached his fifth season with the Raptors, which became his final run with the organization he won a title with back in 2019, he brought on Hines to help with player development. 

When Nurse was relieved of his duties in Toronto, he explored opportunities with several teams before agreeing to become the next head coach of the Sixers. Nurse replaces Doc Rivers after a three-year run with the team.

As expected, the Sixers’ coaching staff is seeing changes across the board. One of the first major changes following Nurse’s hiring was the departure of Sam Cassell. After spending many seasons between two different organizations under Rivers, Cassell decided to join Joe Mazzulla’s staff on the Boston Celtics.

Shortly after Cassell parted ways with the Sixers, defensive mastermind Dan Burke was reportedly set to join Monty Williams’ coaching staff on the Detroit Pistons. With those two out of the picture, the Sixers have gained two new assistants since then.

Over the weekend, it was confirmed that the Sixers are bringing in former NBA G League head coach Bobby Jackson, who oversaw the operation for the Sacramento Kings’ developmental squad out in Stockton. Hines now becomes the second head coach to join Nurse’s staff on Wednesday.