Philadelphia 76ers Gabriel started his coaching career with the
Philadelphia 76ers working as an assistant coach, the director of video scouting, and the scouting coordinator.
Orlando Magic Gabriel was hired by the Magic in 1987 as the director of player personnel, director of scouting and assistant coach. Gabriel helped the Magic reach the NBA Playoffs two times as vice president of basketball operations, and as a player personnel coach from 1994 to 1996. He reached the NBA Finals in 1995, won the Eastern Conference Finals in 1995 and won the Atlantic Division in 1995, 1996 and 1999. With
Darrell Armstrong leading the team, the Magic compiled a 41–41 record but missed the
playoffs in the 1999 season. Gabriel hired
Doc Rivers as head coach of the Magic at the beginning of that season. Rivers won
Coach of the Year honors. In 2000, Gabriel won the NBA and Sport Illustrated Executive of the Year Award. The following season, Gabriel pursued free agents
Grant Hill,
Tim Duncan and
Tracy McGrady. Ultimately, Hill and McGrady came to
Orlando, while Duncan decided to stay with the
San Antonio Spurs. In addition, Gabriel drafted
Mike Miller, who would later become
Rookie of the Year. Gabriel was let go by the Magic in the middle of a franchise record 19-game losing streak during the
2003–04 NBA season. Elected to the Magic Hall of Fame in 2022.
Portland Trail Blazers Gabriel returned to basketball in the NBA as an executive and scout first for the
Portland Trail Blazers.
New York Knicks In 2008, he became the director of scouting for the
New York Knicks. ==Personal life==