Multiple Sixers discuss promotion of Jameer Nelson within front office

CAMDEN, N.J. — While the Philadelphia 76ers made the big move to hire Mike Gansey as the team’s new President of Basketball Operations, they also made other moves to the front office in a bit of an overhaul.

Jameer Nelson, who served as the team’s assistant GM in the 2025-26 season after serving as GM of the team’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. He is, essentially, No. 2 to Gansey and will take on more responsibility in the coming season.

Per Gansey, he made it clear to both Bob Myers and Josh Harris that he wants to keep Nelson around.

“Well, obviously, I’m very, very excited to have Jameer as my number two,” Gansey stated. “That was kind of a sticking point. Talking to Josh and Bob, he was someone I really, really wanted throughout the process. Jameer is very well respected in the league. I’m 0-2 against him when I was at St. Bonaventure. He was at St. Joe’s, but I think I got the win now because I got him on my side. So excited to have him.”

A native of Chester, PA, and a legend at St. Joe’s, Nelson has that connection in Philadelphia and understands the mindset of the fan base for the Sixers. Myers believes having Nelson around in that sense can help the team moving forward. The Philadelphia connection along with the experience he has garnered during his time within the organization has prepared him for this role.

“Just again, being around Jameer all last season, I think Daryl (Morey) did a great job of empowering him a little bit more,” Myers added. “He was on the road a lot, interacting with Nick. Again, another guy that came from the G League space, and look—I don’t know how many of you are from here. I think it’s important that somebody from this community is in a leadership role with this team. I think there’s nothing—not being from here, you recognize the importance of connecting to the community and the fan base and Jameer has that, and he has that equity, and he has that equity with our players and the community.”

It also doesn’t hurt that Gansey stressed to Myers and Harris that he wants Nelson around as he respects what he has done in the business.

“Like Mike said, in talking to Mike, he asked me multiple times, ‘Can we keep Jameer? Can we elevate Jameer?’ And I said, ‘Look, I’m not going to tell you who has to be on your staff, but I think Jameer is great’, and then in speaking to Jameer, ask him if he’s ready for it, and certainly Jameer is–the one thing that you may or may not know is how much he led as a player, and I just think leadership is so important,” Myers finished. “So, to have those two guys kind of together moving forward is a tremendous advantage.”

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Multiple Sixers discuss promotion of Jameer Nelson within front office