Maurice Cheeks was fired today as coach Saturday at the head of the Philadelphia 76ers, who have a 9-14 mark a year after reaching the postseason.The assistant general manager Tony Tell was appointed coach for the rest of the season.
The dismissal came hours before the 76ers play a game of local tonight and tell her debut in the Bank of Philadelphia before the Washington Wizards.
The general manager Ed Stefanski said that he had met with Cheeks, whom he described as a gentleman and a person with class.
"We feel that we were not progressing the way we wanted. I did not believe that we were running the kind of philosophy that we want for the basketball team for the 76ers. "
Cheeks was one of the most popular players in the history of the 76ers and was beginning his fourth season as head coach. Stefanski gave Cheeks contract extensions last season, but the team's slow start this campaign was enough to cost him the post.
Cheeks became the fifth coach to be fired in the NBA this season along with P. J. Carlesimo (Oklahoma City), Eddie Jordan (Washington), Sam Mitchell (Toronto) and Randy Wittman (Minnesota).
