Sixers Hire Strength And Conditioning Coach Todd Wright
By Ray Boyd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Sixers announced the hiring of Todd Wright on Thursday afternoon. Wright will join Brett Brown's staff as an assistant coach and will serve as the team's Head of Strength and Conditioning.
"We feel fortunate to now call Todd Wright a Sixer," said President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Sam Hinkie in a statement on Thursday. "His reputation as a trainer of basketball players is second to none. His values and his ability to form genuine, lasting relationships with athletes to help them achieve their goals are both heavily aligned with our organization and with our player development in Philadelphia. When it became clear that the University of Texas was to make a change in their men's basketball program, I booked a flight to Austin within 10 minutes."
Hinkie made it very clear that he wanted to add Wright to the program which is understandable considering his reputation and the Sixers desire to develop their players' physical strengths. There is also an increased emphasis on health for the franchise considering the conditions by which the team acquired players like Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.
The Sixers general manager also referenced Wright's ability to build "lasting relationships," with the athletes he works with. One interesting athlete in particular that Wright is connected to is NBA superstar Kevin Durant.
Wright worked with Durant during his lone season with Texas. In an interview with Stack.com, Durant emphasized how important Wright was to him while at Texas and that Wright actually played a role in why he picked the school.
"[Wright's] one of the reasons I picked Texas," Durant said during the interview. "He does so much for guys, not only gaining weight, but make sure you're always healthy. He knows a lot about the body."
Durant will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2016 season and the addition of Wright could aid the Sixers if they decide to make a push to lure Durant away from the Thunder and his hometown Wizards.
With a few young pieces in place, multiple first round picks, cap space and Wright, the Sixers could indeed throw their name in the pool for Durant's services.
Wright was the Strength and Conditioning Coach for Texas for 14 years before coming to Philadelphia. Wright spent 21 years in college basketball between Texas and Clemson.
This move is just the latest in a string of moves that tie to the Sixers reliance on player development. Earlier this off-season, the team hired Dr. David T. Martin to serve as Director of Performance Research and Development.
"Our additions of Dr. David T. Martin and Todd Wright are further evidence of our desire to be considered world class in the fields of sport science and athletic performance. Our players invest enormous amounts of time into their individual games and their bodies, and we hope to provide them every opportunity to become strong and resilient, to maximize their playing potential, and to lengthen their careers," Hinkie said.
Former Sixers Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Jesse Wright, will be promoted to a newly created performance science position where he will work with both Martin and Wright, both of which he helped to recruit to the Sixers.
