Sixers hiring Ime Udoka to become lead assistant coach

The 76ers will hire Ime Udoka to replace Monty Williams as their lead assistant coach, sources have confirmed.

Udoka, who accepted the job Thursday, will come to Philadelphia after spending seven seasons as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs under coach Gregg Popovich. Sixers coach Brett Brown has ties to the Spurs. He was a longtime assistant coach there before the Sixers hired him on Aug. 12, 2013.

Williams left the Sixers to coach the Phoenix Suns last month. He also has ties with the Spurs, having played and coached for them, also working in their front office.

Udoka, 41, interviewed last month for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ head coaching job. The Cavs position was eventually filled by John Beilein.

Udoka joined the Spurs coaching staff in 2012. That was one year after he retired after stops as a player with San Antonio, the Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers.

He has been known for developing strong relationships with players. The Portland native also has a player-development background. Udoka’s job included two summers as the head coach of the Spurs’ NBA Summer League teams in 2013-14.

Williams agreed to take over the Suns job on May 3. He joined the Sixers’ coaching staff last June after two years in the Spurs’ front office.

The Spurs job came after he spent the 2015-16 season as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He took a leave of absence after his wife, Ingrid, died in a car accident on Feb. 10, 2016, and after the season it was announced that Williams would not return.

Before going to Oklahoma City, he had compiled a 173-221 record during five seasons as the New Orleans Pelicans’ head coach.