It is hard to find an NBA coach who has watched his players’ on-court growing pains and suffered more losses in the last three seasons than Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown. Yet, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Brown as he has a young, talented squad that will add three marquee rookies (Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric) to a roster that added some solid veterans in the offseason. In an interview with local media, Brown shared his outlook for 2016-17, writes Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Brown spoke to the local media at a South Philadelphia restaurant on Thursday and his passion and enthusiasm were as strong as ever.
“Given our experience together, from where we were to where we are now, how can we all not feel a breath of fresh air, a new bounce, a higher level of hope and an excitement that together we haven’t experienced for awhile?” Brown said.
Brown said there are several reasons for the optimism, beginning with the expected debut of center Joel Embiid after missing his first two NBA seasons following foot surgeries. There is the addition of No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons, the 6-foot-10 passing whiz from LSU who can play anywhere from power forward to point guard.
Forward Dario Saric, acquired in a 2014 draft-day trade, will be making his debut after playing in Turkey the last two years.
There are veteran additions in guards Jerryd Bayless, Gerald Henderson, and Sergio Rodriquez, who is returning to the NBA after six years with Real Madrid.
Plus, there is the anticipated progression of young players Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Robert Covington, and Jerami Grant.
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With Embiid, Okafor and Noel, the Sixers have three centers, probably one too many. It’s still possible that Noel or Okafor could be traded, but Brown would have nothing to do with any speculation.
“I will coach them until they are not [here],” Brown said.
As for the health of Okafor, who underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee on March 16, Brown says the knee is fine.
Okafor recently rolled his ankle, but Brown expects him to be ready when the team begins training camp Sept. 27 at Stockton University.
Brown praised Okafor for being in excellent physical condition.
The fourth-year Sixers coach also had high praise for Noel, although pairing him and Okafor together didn’t bring favorable results last season.
“Nerlens has elite gifts,” Brown said. “He is athletic, quick off the floor, and as quick to the rim as anybody I have coached, as any big man in the league.”
Brown said he couldn’t make a starting lineup at this point, although he did talk about the point guard position.
“If the season started today, you give Jerryd Bayless the ball and go from there,” he said. “I feel there will be times you will see Ben Simmons with the ball as the traditional point guard.”
