Philadelphia 76ers top assistant coach Dave Joerger is leaving the team for several weeks to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments for a form of "head and neck" cancer, Joerger told ESPN.
Joerger, 47, has undergone treatments while coaching for the past two weeks -- missing only one road game -- but the Sixers' extended road trip requires him to step away and stay back for treatments in Philadelphia, he said.
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.