PHILADELPHIA — Following their elimination from the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Philadelphia 76ers dismissed president Daryl Morey on Tuesday while choosing to retain head coach Nick Nurse for the upcoming season.
The organization made swift changes after the New York Knicks eliminated them in a sweep, concluding Morey’s sixth year leading the franchise’s basketball operations.
Managing partner Josh Harris announced that he and Morey mutually agreed it was appropriate to pursue a new direction for the organization.
Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers will spearhead the hiring process for Morey’s successor and will temporarily manage the basketball operations department.
“To our fans, your frustration and disappointment are understandable and warranted,” Harris said. “We have fallen well short of our own expectations and failed to deliver in the way this city deserves. That bothers me deeply and I have confidence in Bob to establish a path forward for our franchise.”
During Morey’s leadership, the Sixers compiled a 270-212 regular season record but struggled in playoff competition with a 28-26 postseason mark, never advancing beyond the conference semifinals. The team qualified for the playoffs this year after missing the postseason for the first time during Morey’s era in 2024-25, when they finished 24-58.
Myers constructed the championship Golden State squads that captured NBA titles in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Following his departure from the Warriors, he worked as an ESPN analyst before joining Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment as president of sports in October 2025.
Morey arrived in Philadelphia in 2020 following 14 years with the Houston Rockets, where he served as general manager for 13 seasons. Houston qualified for the playoffs during his final eight campaigns, and he earned NBA executive of the year honors in 2018 when the Rockets achieved a 65-17 record and reached the Western Conference finals.
In 2019, his social media post supporting Hong Kong protesters created diplomatic tensions with Chinese officials and damaged the NBA’s profitable Chinese market relationships. The Rockets had previously maintained strong popularity in China following their selection of Yao Ming as the top draft pick in 2002.
Known for his data-driven methodology — holding an MBA from MIT and co-chairing the institution’s annual Sports Analytics Conference — Morey struggled to construct a championship team around frequently injured center Joel Embiid. He brought in James Harden, his former Houston standout, and subsequently added veteran Paul George at significant cost.
His recent draft selections included successful picks like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, chosen third overall last year. However, he faced criticism for trading Jared McCain, a 2024 first-round selection, to Oklahoma City this season. McCain contributed 11.5 points per game as the defending champion Thunder swept the Lakers in the second round.
