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Jameer Nelson talks rise to No. 2 position within Sixers front office
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- Jameer Nelson talks rise to No. 2 position within Sixers front office
CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers have made some changes to the front office as they head into a new era under the guidance of Mike Gansey. The Sixers brought in Gansey from the Cleveland Cavaliers to replace Daryl Morey, who held the position for six seasons before the teams parted ways.
The addition of Gansey wasn't the only move the Sixers made to the front office. Philadelphia promoted Chester, PA native Jameer Nelson to the position of Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. He will be No. 2 in the front office to Gansey as the two of them, along with HSBE president of sports Bob Myers, will look to guide the Sixers to the mountaintop for the first time since 1983.
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"I'm gonna be honest with you, I thought I was gonna be a coach," Nelson laughed. "But when you're working in the front office, you get to coach in your own way. So, starting myself as a scout and in the G League, and being able to help and run a team in the minor leagues, it's important. It's important for your growth, it's important for your, I would say, for me being shaped into the executive that I am now."
Nelson, a former All-Star during his heyday with the Orlando Magic, was a leader in every sense of the word during his time as a player. He has made this climb with the Sixers starting as a scout and then GM of the Delaware Blue Coats in the G League and then assistant GM to Elton Brand--who will be given a new role within the organization--to now being No. 2 to Gansey. While he wanted to get into coaching, he has found a way to satisfy that feeling while in the front office.
"Collaborating with coaches and players and things like that, that's where I quench my thirst for coaching there," Nelson added. "So, I was brought in as, like I said, a scout, and Elton hired me, and I continue to grow. He gave me the space to grow, and we're here now."
Obviously, being from nearby Chester, there are a lot of ties to the area for Nelson. He was a legend during his collegiate career at St. Joe's and grew up a big Sixers fan. While he was a candidate for the President of Basketball Operations position--all he said was "It was fun and it's good to be wanted" to that process--he's happy to remain in Philadelphia. He revealed he had opportunities elsewhere, but his ties to the City of Brotherly Love were the reason he stayed.
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"In the past, I've had opportunities in other places," he said. "I want to be part of the solution here, right? Things that matter here most to me is I'm home, right? My family's here. Again, I'm a Sixers fan, right? My favorite basketball player of all time is Charles Barkley, and (Allen) Iverson, and Kobe (Bryant). So, people that's from this area or played in this area, you know? I feel like some responsibility to help this organization move forward."
Nelson will look to be the solution to help the Sixers move forward.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Jameer Nelson talks rise to No. 2 position within Sixers front office
