Former Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown recently lost one of his two coaching gigs when the Sixers went in another direction -- and now he has relinquished the other.
Brown has announced his resignation as head coach of Australia's national team, the Associated Press reported, citing a cloudy future in pro basketball as well as concerns over the global health crisis.
“The uncertainties around the direction of my professional future unfortunately mean that I cannot commit to the time and preparation that this job deserves and requires,” Brown said in a statement. “The difficulties around traveling internationally with my family during the pandemic have also contributed to my decision.
"This was a difficult decision which did not come easy," Brown said.
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The team said it was disappointed but respected Brown's decision.
"Basketball Australia is naturally disappointed that Brett is no longer able to commit to being the Boomers' head coach for the delayed Tokyo Olympics, but we fully understand Brett's situation, and appreciate his candidness when informing us of the decision," said Basketball Australia CEO Jerril Rechter.
The Tokyo Olympics were postponed until 2021 due to the virus. The start of the 2020-21 NBA season was also delayed indefinitely, creating uncertainty about the timing of both events -- and whether they'll be played concurrently, or at different times so as to allow professional players and coaches to participate.
The move comes only weeks after Brown was relieved of his duties in Philadelphia following a disappointing early-round exit from the NBA playoffs at the league's bubble campus in Orlando, Florida.
Patience among fans wore thin after the Sixers took a step back under Brown in 2019-20, with the team seemingly unable to rectify issues on half-court offense that had plagued them for a while.
The success of Jimmy Butler with the Miami Heat couldn't have helped Brown's case either, after the Sixers flipped him to the Heat in a controversial sign-and-trade in the offseason. Butler later appeared to suggest his short-lived stint in Philly didn't work out because he didn't see eye-to-eye with Brown.
The Sixers have since hired former Magic, Celtics and Clippers coach Doc Rivers to lead the team.
Brown coached the Sixers to a 221-344 record in seven seasons on the bench, clocking winning records in each of his final three years after failing to win 30 games in each of the first four.