How Phil Handy Elevates the 76ers

Phil Handy's departure from his previous role with the Dallas Mavericks separates him from one of his favorite pupils and a former teammate of LeBron James in Kyrie Irving.

Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Phil Handy is finalizing a deal to become an assistant coach with Philadelphia Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, a source said. Handy previously worked with Nurse in Toronto and with LeBron James with the Cavs and Lakers. Great addition for Nurse. pic.twitter.com/uzD9hYu4Fn
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 21, 2026

Handy's relationship with Irving dates back to their days in Cleveland over a decade ago. Mike Brown was the Cavaliers' head coach at the time and hired Handy to join his staff—specifically to work with Irving.

Handy's goal wasn't to unlock a vault of talent in the former No. 1 pick. His star capabilities were already on display. Instead, Handy focused on maintaining discipline and honing in on the technical aspects of his skills.

A closed-off Irving hesitated to trust Handy initially, as the young guard had been repeatedly let down when working with others in the past. Handy worked hard to earn Irving's trust and bond with him.

A major component in building their relationship was that the assistant coach connected him with one of basketball's greatest legends.

Handy enlisted Kobe

When Irving was still reluctant to open up to coaching, Handy sought out Bryant to help get through to Irving. He identified a potential relationship between the two and knew of Irving's love for the Lakers icon. Having one of his idols in his ear reinforced Handy's teachings and inspired Irving to lock in.

"Kobe was instrumental in telling him, 'Young fella, here's what you have to do. You've got to work on your game and pick your spots,'" Handy recalled. "When he started that rapport with Kobe, the floodgates opened. His mindset changed; his approach changed."

Irving has credited Handy with helping him learn the nuances of basketball and how to excel in the league. The two developed a close relationship that has continued to deepen over the last 13 years.

"He's kind of like my dad in terms of basketball when I'm away from my family," Irving said during the 2016 NBA Finals. "So he's been influential on my life."

Handy's ability to earn players' trusts and establish connections will be integral in assimilating with the 76ers.

Developing Kawhi Leonard

Another NBA champion that Handy helped was two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Handy was a part of Nick Nurse's coaching staff in Toronto during the Raptors' 2018-19 title season.

Leonard had already developed championship habits and knew how to work from his seven-year tenure with the illustrious San Antonio Spurs. Handy concentrated on two key factors that he swears by when training players: footwork and balance.

While working together, Handy wanted to improve Leonard's ballhandling. He focused on repeated basketball motions that tested his balance and footwork.

With a 7-foot-3 wingspan and hands over 11 inches wide, Hardy recognized that Leonard's build may challenge his control with the ball.

"Kawhi is really long, so my tendency when I'm working with guys that are long is to help them tighten their handle," he said. "It makes sense biomechanically with your body: If you're sitting in a wider stance, it's going to help you keep your length in."

Although not every move was noticeable during games, enhancing his dribbling skills was about more than just showing them off in live action. Ballhandling taught fluidity between movements and improved his natural reflexes.

"Sometimes the dribbling exercises you put guys through—it may not be something they actually use on the floor, but it gives transference," he explained. "Their instincts become better. They just instinctually start to go from one handle to another to another when they're in different situations in games."

Working on his handle also helped Leonard get into his shots more easily and become more comfortable on the floor.

Working with Rui Hachimura

Handy hasn't just worked with NBA All-Stars. He has elevated role players by pushing them outside of their comfort zones.

Former Lakers forward Rui Hachimura spent a season and a half with Handy during his second stint on the Lakers' coaching staff.

Hachimura was slowly becoming known as a 3-point threat toward the end of his time with the Wizards. But on a team with LeBron James, Handy knew spacing would be even more crucial.

Hachimura blossomed into a legitimate 3-point shooter under Handy's guidance while also increasing his attempts.

Hachimura's growth as a shooter

Hachimura shot over 40% from 3 in each of his seasons with the Lakers—raising his level in the postseason. Hachimura connected on 48.4% of his 3-pointers on 6.2 attempts in the 2024-25 playoffs. He continued to scorch the following postseason, going 56.9% from beyond the arc.

Although he previously shot 60% with the Wizards in the 2021 playoffs, he nearly doubled his attempts in each of his last two seasons with the Lakers.

"Shoutout to Phil," he said after the Lakers' season ended. "Phil Handy—he was the one who talked me through a lot of stuff; what I can do to stay in this league....The first thing he talked about is [3-pointers]."

Hachimura admitted that he was reluctant at first when Handy told him his plans to hone in on his shooting. But trusting the veteran coach paid dividends once again.

"I think that was the biggest thing for me because, honestly, I don't like shooting 3s. That's not my thing for me...But with the team situation, how [coach] JJ coaches, he wants me to shoot a lot of 3s. It was a different game for me, but I had to do it."

“I love this team. I love this organization.”

Rui Hachimura discusses his future in LA and why he’s appreciated his time with the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/q1WoQQWfH6
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) May 12, 2026

Phil Handy fits the team

Handy has collected three NBA titles as an assistant coach and left an imprint on superstars and role players throughout the league.

His keen basketball mind for knowing just what a specific player needs will pay dividends for Philadelphia's roster. Knowing how to connect with players regardless of their status is a cornerstone of his coaching talent.

The Sixers already have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. Now, adding a respected coach like Handy puts another piece in perfect position to complete their puzzle.

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