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Maurice Cheeks
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==Coaching career== After retirement, Cheeks spent one year coaching for the [[Continental Basketball Association]]βs [[Quad City Thunder]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Craig|last=Cooper|url=https://qctimes.com/sports/basketball/from-the-archives-welcome-to-the-cba-cheeks/article_01920ea4-d2da-11e2-9977-0019bb2963f4.html|title=From the archives: 'Welcome to the CBA, Cheeks'|date=March 27, 1994|publisher=[[Quad City Times]]|access-date=January 1, 2019}}</ref> before becoming the 76ers assistant coach in 1994 through 2001.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Maurice Cheeks: Coaching Record, Awards |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/cheekma01c.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=McGregor |first=Gilbert |date=2018-09-03 |title=Maurice Cheeks built an impressive Hall of Fame resume over his 15-year career {{!}} Sporting News Canada |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/philadelphia-76ers/news/2018-basketball-hall-of-fame-resume-maurice-mo-cheeks-76ers-spurs-knicks-trail-blazers-thunder/11k77q817vny1n3fxx1sruuue |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-ca}}</ref> He coached under head coaches [[John Lucas II|John Lucas]] (1994β96), [[Johnny Davis (basketball, born 1955)|Johnny Davis]] (1996β97), and [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia 76ers Coaches |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/coaches.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> and he was an instrumental part{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} of the Philadelphia team that reached the [[2001 NBA Finals]]. In 2001, he was hired as Portland Trail Blazers head coach. He led the team to two playoff berths in four years as coach, but could not get past the first round. He was fired after a poor start to the 2004β05 campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brener |first=Jeremy |date=2022-03-04 |title=Blazers History: Looking Back On The Maurice Cheeks Era |url=https://www.blazersedge.com/2022/3/4/22961655/portland-trail-blazers-history-maurice-cheeks-coach-fired |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Blazer's Edge |language=en}}</ref> On April 25, 2003, during a game between the Trail Blazers and the [[Dallas Mavericks]], Cheeks famously aided 13-year-old Natalie Gilbert in singing the [[The Star-Spangled Banner|American national anthem]]. After Gilbert forgot the words at "At the twilight's last gleaming", Cheeks rushed over to help her, and they finished it together as the entire Rose Garden Arena crowd sang with them. Cheeks and Gilbert received a standing ovation after the song was over.<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8969872_ITM Shining moment for Cheeks and 13-year-old girl made us proud.]. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved on June 20, 2009</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Mo Cheeks National Anthem | date=August 8, 2006 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4880PJnO2E |access-date=2023-03-21 |language=en}}</ref> Cheeks actions were used by [[Harvard Business School]] Professor Thomas J. DeLong as an example of true leadership in times of crisis.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fajardo |first=Rosario |date=2019-09-11 |title=Leadership in Times of Crisis: The Case of Maurice Cheeks |url=https://www.theweeklyjournal.com/business/leadership-in-times-of-crisis-the-case-of-maurice-cheeks/article_fe2cd4c0-d3f8-11e9-ae6d-43eb00bdb759.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=The Weekly Journal |language=en}}</ref> Former 76ers general manager [[Pat Williams (basketball)|Pat Williams]] called it "'just a beautiful moment of ... humanity.'"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Gordie |date=September 7, 2018 |title=10 Things To Know About Maurice Cheeks, Sixers' New Hall Of Famer |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordiejones/2018/09/07/10-points-to-ponder-about-sixers-hall-of-fame-bound-no-10-maurice-cheeks/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> In 2005, Cheeks was named as head coach of the 76ers.<ref name=":5" /> Cheeks was popular among 76ers fans because of his eleven-year tenure with the 76ers, during which he helped guide the 76ers to the 1983 NBA championship. The move was also praised by 76ers star [[Allen Iverson]], who worked with Cheeks during his run as 76ers' Assistant Head Coach.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2005 |title=Iverson ecstatic about new coach Cheeks |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2183939 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> However, he missed the playoffs in each of his first two seasons.<ref name=":8" /> Frustrations began to grow with 76ers veterans Allen Iverson and [[Chris Webber]], who were not happy with the team's direction.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cheeks Admits Loss Led To Yelling In Locker Room |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/176272/Cheeks-Admits-Loss-Led-To-Yelling-In-Locker-Room |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=basketball.realgm.com |language=en}}</ref> Toward the end of the 2006 season, the two were fined for tardiness coming to a game, but soon apologized profusely to Cheeks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-04-18 |title=76ers will fine Iverson, Webber for being late to arena |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2413097 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-04-20 |title=Iverson, Webber apologize for late arrival Tuesday |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2414529 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> During the 2006β07 season, Iverson would be traded to the Nuggets and Webber would be released,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jasner |first=Phil |date=January 12, 2007 |title=Weber saw the writing on the wall last month |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/20070112_dn_S_SIXE.html |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> leaving Cheeks with one of the youngest teams in the NBA.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Juliano |first=Joe |date=2007-04-22 |title=Cheeks sees positives as Sixers are evolving |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/sixers/20070422_Cheeks_sees_positives_as_Sixers_are_evolving.html#loaded |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=inquirer.com |language=en}}</ref> On February 20, 2007, the 76ers extended Cheeks' contract one year despite his losing record as coach.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-02-20 |title=76ers to extend Cheeks |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3254453 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> At the beginning of the 2007β08 season, expectations were low and the 76ers were picked to finish last in the Conference by many prognosticators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/preview2007/phi.html|title=NBA.com β 2007β08 Season Preview: Philadelphia 76ers|website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=July 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601121552/http://www.nba.com/preview2007/phi.html|archive-date=June 1, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the Sixers clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Atlanta Hawks on April 4, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/postgame_report_080404.html|title=Philadelphia 76ers News Headlines|website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=July 26, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109171623/http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/postgame_report_080404.html|archive-date=January 9, 2016}}</ref> It was their first postseason appearance since 2005, as well as the first in the post-Iverson era. However, they were eliminated by the [[Detroit Pistons]], 4β2. Even with this elimination, many fans considered this to be a successful season, considering that the 76ers were 12 games under .500 in early February and went on to have a 21β7 run that led them to the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20080404/PHIATL/recap.html|title=NBA.com Sixers Hold Off Hawks, Clinch Playoff Spot|website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref> The 76ers extended Cheeks' contract before the 2008-2009 season to 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fagan |first=Kate |date=2008-09-10 |title=Sixers extend Mo Cheeks contract |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/deep-sixer/Sixers_extend_Mo_Cheeks_contract.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=inquirer.com |language=en}}</ref> They started out the 2008β09 NBA season 9β14 despite their signing of [[Elton Brand]] and re-signing of [[Andre Iguodala]] during the off-season. Due to their slow start, the 76ers fired Cheeks on December 13, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stein |first=Marc |date=December 14, 2008 |title=76ers fire Cheeks after slow start |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3766766 |access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> On August 14, 2009, he was hired as an assistant coach for the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]].<ref>{{cite web |date=August 14, 2009 |title=Thunder Announces Coaching Staff |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_090814.html |access-date=August 14, 2009 |website=NBA.com}}</ref> On June 10, 2013, Cheeks agreed to become the head coach of the Detroit Pistons.<ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit Pistons Name Maurice Cheeks Head Coach |url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-name-maurice-cheeks-head-coach |work=NBA.com |date=June 10, 2013|access-date=June 10, 2013}}</ref> On February 9, 2014, the Detroit Pistons relieved him of his head coaching duties and replaced him with [[John Loyer]] on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.<ref name=pistons>{{cite web|title=Detroit Pistons Relieve Maurice Cheeks of Head Coaching Duties|url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-relieve-maurice-cheeks-head-coaching-duties|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=February 9, 2014|access-date=February 9, 2014}}</ref> The move came after owner [[Tom Gores]] suggested that the Pistons were "better than our record" and weren't playing "at their maximum"βa veiled criticism of Cheeks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2014/02/column_maurice_cheeks_firing_f.html|title=Maurice Cheeks' firing forewarned by Pistons owner Tom Gores, who was right|author1=David Mayo|publisher=[[MLive]]|date=February 9, 2014}}</ref> On June 29, 2015, Cheeks returned to the Thunder as an assistant coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/coaching_staff_150629|title= Thunder Announces Coaching Staff |date=June 29, 2015|work=NBA.com|access-date=June 29, 2015}}</ref> On November 14, 2020, Cheeks was hired by the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach following the team's hiring of [[Billy Donovan]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bulls add to 2020β21 coaching staff |url=https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-add-2020-21-coaching-staff |website=NBA.com |access-date=November 14, 2020 |date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> On June 13, 2024, it was reported that [[Tom Thibodeau]] was hiring Cheeks to be an assistant coach for the [[New York Knicks]],<ref>{{cite web |title= Knicks adding experienced Maurice Cheeks to Tom Thibodeau's staff |url=https://nypost.com/2024/06/13/sports/knicks-adding-experienced-to-tom-thibodeaus-staff |website=nypost.com |access-date=June 17, 2024| date=June 17, 2024}}</ref> and Cheeks joined the Knicks coaching staff for the 2024-2025 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Nickeem |date=2024-10-31 |title=Knicks Coaching Staff 2024β25: Learn More About Tom Thibodeau and His Staff |url=https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-knicks-coaching-staff-2024-25-learn-more-about-tom-thibodeau-and-his-staff/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=The SportsRush |language=en}}</ref>
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