In New York, Sept. 26, 2016, Scott O’Neil, chief executive officer of the Philadelphia 76ers. Getty Images/Christopher Goodney/Bloomberg The Philadelphia 76ers have yet another task on their offseason to-do list. The team announced on Wednesday that CEO Scott O’Neil is leaving the franchise to pursue “other possibilities.” Over the course of his eight seasons with the Sixers, O’Neil is credited with helping to rebrand the team. In 2016, he landed the NBA’s first jersey patch agreement, as well as a new practice facility, and he helped the Sixers finish first in attendance in 2019. O’Neil was the CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Sixers and the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. Josh Harris, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, and David Blitzer, a Blackstone executive, head the sports organization. Working for HBSE was one of the most difficult challenges of his career “and the most pleasure I have ever had,” according to O’Neil, who added that “every day presented a new opportunity to learn and develop.” In 2016, O’Neil arranged for the Sixers to become the first professional sports organization in the United States to own an e-sports team. This helped the squad place 12th on the Sports Innovation Lab’s list of the world’s 25 most innovative teams. “In a relatively short period of time, Scott has accomplished so much on behalf of the organization, driving our development, culture, and commitment to strengthening the communities in which we live, work, play, and win,” Harris said in a statement. “I can’t express how much we appreciate Scott’s tremendous contributions to the company, and how grateful I am for his leadership and participation in helping HBSE build a best-in-class culture.” Before enrolling in HBSE, O’Neil was the president of MSG Sports and a long-serving NBA league office executive. His departure comes at a crucial time for the Sixers, both on and off the court. On June 20, 2021 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers defends the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during Round 2 Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Getty Images | Jesse D. Garrabrant | National Basketball Association Despite finishing first in the East, the squad was unable to advance to the conference finals. Ben Simmons, a co-franchise star, struggled in the postseason, and his future with the organization is uncertain. Marc Zumoff, a long-time play-by-play TV commentator, announced his retirement on Tuesday. The Sixers’ next CEO will be faced with keeping the franchise financially solvent, securing a new arena for the team, and maybe bringing the NBA’s All-Star Game back to the city. Rumblings around the league claimed the Sixers and city authorities might make a bid for the 2026 event before the outbreak, but no decision has been taken to present a proposal to the NBA. Philadelphia could host two major league all-star games in the same year if a bid is made. That year, the city will host the Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Last December, O’Neil helped the Devils secure the NHL’s first helmet sponsor. The team, however, concluded the season with a 19-30-7 record and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018. According to Forbes, the Devils’ franchise value has dropped 4% and is currently worth $530 million. The Sixers are also worth $2 billion, according to the outlet./nRead More