Ruland returns to Sixers as assistant coach

0 Comments | Philadelphia Daily News, August, 2008 | by PHIL JASNER jasnerp@phillynews.com

The 76ers' fans never really got to know Jeff Ruland. To them, he was the hulking 6-10 center/power forward acquired from Washington in June 1986, who made it through only five games in 1986-87, hobbled by a bad knee.

"It was disappointing, but put yourself in my shoes - I was 28, in the prime of my career, had had surgery the previous season and came back to play in the playoffs, in the best shape of my life," Ruland recalled yesterday after rejoining the Sixers as an assistant coach. "My left [surgically repaired] leg was stronger than my right, but they told me I had degenerative arthritis."

Ruland, 49, was a key figure on the most infamous day in Sixers history. He arrived with Cliff Robinson in a deal that sent Moses Malone, Terry Catledge and two first-round...