Taj Gibson’s new role with the Chicago Bulls is the kind of move that should have the Philadelphia 76ers thinking about their own next player-to-coach addition. If the Sixers are looking for a familiar face who can slide onto the bench and help Nick Nurse, Kyle Lowry makes plenty of sense.
Lowry just announced his retirement this summer, and his next step isn’t clear yet. A TV job could be in play.
Coaching could be, too. He might even step away from the game altogether.
Right now, there’s no firm answer on what comes next, which is exactly why Philadelphia should at least make the call if it hasn’t already.
The case for Lowry starts with what he has already meant inside the locker room. Over the past two years and change, he has been a steady presence for the Sixers, and teammates have spoken highly of his leadership and voice.
Then there’s the fit. Lowry has already built a strong relationship with Tyrese Maxey and soon-to-be sophomore VJ Edgecombe, which would make the transition easy from a chemistry standpoint. He’d walk into a room with some existing trust, and his background would help him connect quickly with new faces as well.
The other obvious selling point is experience. Lowry spent two decades in the league, played for five organizations, and lived through just about every stage of an NBA career.
He began as a late first-round pick coming off the bench, didn’t become a full-time starter until his fifth season, and didn’t make his first All-Star team until nearly 10 years into his career. After that came a six-year run of All-Star appearances before he shifted from star to more of an important complementary piece outside Toronto.
By the time he got to Philadelphia, he had entered that veteran phase where the game slows down and the player starts thinking like a coach. That’s part of what makes him appealing now. He’s seen it all, and players tend to respect that kind of voice.
The Sixers already saw how valuable that can be with Sam Cassell, who played a major role in Tyrese Maxey’s rise before leaving for Boston. Lowry could be the next former player to make that same kind of jump, following the path Gibson just took in Chicago and landing on a former team’s staff.
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