The Philadelphia 76ers received some tough news on Saturday as they have found out that an important member of their team will be leaving for a while to undergo chemotherapy.
That important member is assistant coach Dave Joerger who is a guy who serves the role of offensive coordinator for coach Doc Rivers’ staff. This comes after Joerger has been undergoing treatments for his cancer for the past couple of weeks before the road trip is forcing him to stay in Philadelphia.
Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Joerger told the Sixers players, assistant coaches and staff of his cancer in a post-game meeting on Saturday night in Indiana. He had already told a small group of Sixers officials — including coach Doc Rivers, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and owner Josh Harris — of his recent diagnoses.
Joerger, who says he has Stage 1 cancer, described his prognosis prior to Saturday’s game in a visit on an upcoming edition of ESPN’s “The Woj Pod” podcast.
“We have caught it early,” Joerger told ESPN. “I’m very lucky. I’ve got over a 90 percent chance of cure rate, but it’s very scary and it’s not enjoyable going through. …I can’t go on the road and do radiation and chemotherapy in different cities around the country. To continue my treatment, I need to step away from the team.”
Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Dave Joerger is leaving the team for several weeks to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments to combat a form of “head and neck” cancer, Joerger tells ESPN. Story: https://t.co/PqLSsrzfNL
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 14, 2021
“Dave is not only one of the most talented and respected coaches in the NBA, but he’s a great friend, colleague, husband, and father,” said Rivers via an official statement from the organization. “The same positivity, enthusiasm, and grit that have made him a successful coach will also carry him through his fight against cancer. I know I speak for everyone at the 76ers when I say, ‘Get well soon, we love you and we’ll be with you throughout this entire process. Your battle is our battle’.”
The best thing the Sixers can do right now is to continue to support Joerger and help him through what is certainly going to be a tough time for him and his family throughout his treatments.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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