Former Rockets CEO Tad Brown will take over as CEO of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, effective Aug. 3. Brown chose to leave Houston at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Brown spent nearly 20 years with the Rockets and was in the CEO role since October 2006, making him one of the franchise’s longest-tenured executives. With the 76ers, he will join an executive leadership team that also includes former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey — who is now the president of basketball operations in Philadelphia.
In 13 years together in Houston, Brown and Morey oversaw a 640-400 (.615) record, which was second-best in the NBA during that time.
Morey and Brown had each cited family reasons as among factors potentially pushing them towards an East Coast job. Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, there was a bonus financial incentive, too:
The Rockets’ agreement with Morey, Brown and others that were part of sale when the team was sold to Tilman Fertitta in 2017 gave five-year guaranteed contract extensions in which they will get paid by the Rockets, even after taking positions with other organizations, a person with knowledge of the agreements said. That could have worked to provide incentives to leave the team during that five-year period.
Former Rockets CEO Tad Brown named CEO of 76ers, New Jersey Devils https://t.co/PaqskLd2ic via @houstonchron
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 12, 2021
Gretchen Sheirr is effectively replacing Brown in Houston, though her formal title is president of basketball operations, rather than CEO. Sheirr had most recently worked alongside Brown as chief operating officer.
Rafael Stone, who was Morey’s No. 2 executive in basketball operations during recent years, took over the general manager role last fall.
I can confirm this reporting from @Jonathan_Feigen. Former owner Leslie Alexander insisted on this clause for his top two execs as part of the sale of the franchise to Tilman Fertitta. https://t.co/NwcaTbIZyz
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 12, 2021
