Sixers' Hinkie Resignation Letter Turns 10

Dr. Atul Gawande was shocked by the overwhelming response to the letter's anniversary.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:59am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, conceptually representing the data-driven strategies that defined Hinkie's tenure with the Sixers.A cubist interpretation of the lasting impact of Sam Hinkie's analytical approach to rebuilding the Philadelphia 76ers.Boston Today

Ten years ago, Sam Hinkie resigned as general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, sending a 13-page letter that went viral. This week, the anniversary of that letter has sparked a renewed interest, with surgeon Dr. Atul Gawande revealing he was inundated with emails about the letter's impact a decade later.

Why it matters

Hinkie's resignation letter was a watershed moment in the Sixers' rebuilding process, known as 'The Process,' which divided fans but ultimately led to the team's current success. The continued interest in the letter highlights its lasting impact on the NBA and sports analytics.

The details

In 2016, Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, received dozens of emails from people reflecting on the 10-year anniversary of Hinkie's resignation letter. Hinkie's 13-page letter, which detailed his analytical approach to rebuilding the Sixers, went viral when it was released in 2016.

  • Sam Hinkie resigned as Sixers GM on April 6, 2016.
  • The 10-year anniversary of Hinkie's resignation letter was on April 6, 2026.

The players

Sam Hinkie

The former general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers who resigned in 2016 after implementing a controversial rebuilding strategy known as 'The Process'.

Dr. Atul Gawande

A surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston who received an overwhelming number of emails about the 10-year anniversary of Hinkie's resignation letter.

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What they’re saying

“I was just stunned by the number of emails I received about the anniversary of that letter. It clearly had a lasting impact on the NBA and the way people think about sports analytics.”

— Dr. Atul Gawande, Surgeon

The takeaway

Hinkie's resignation letter, with its analytical approach to rebuilding the Sixers, continues to be a touchstone in the NBA a decade later, highlighting the lasting influence of 'The Process' and the growing importance of data-driven decision making in professional sports.