The Sixer Sense
Fansided

July 17 Just Became Important To The Philadelphia 76ers

By Bret Stuter

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Dario Saric (Croatia) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number twelve overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Dario Saric (Croatia) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number twelve overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie (L) listens as owner Joshua Harris (M) introduces Jerry Colangelo (R) as special advisor before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie (L) listens as owner Joshua Harris (M) introduces Jerry Colangelo (R) as special advisor before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Running the Sixers Like a Business Has Its Downside

The team culture has change.   Prior to the 2016-2017 season, this was a magic place for the NBA outcasts.  Injured, undrafted, second round selections, all types of players found an opportunity on the roster.  While the wins certainly did not come, the goodwill of players who owed their opportunity to the Philadelphia 76ers certainly did.

Despite the trades of valued NBA players, the team had a very “come as you are and we will take care of you” feel to it.  That family style of management was completely evidenced in the way the team committed virtually everything necessary to return center Joel Embiid to full health. When a team has so much faith in a player, it sends a message to all of the players that the team will go to great lengths to do what’s right for the player.

That tends to improve loyalty greatly.  Loyalty in the NBA is very rare now, and has been replaced with maximum contracts and bird exceptions.  But even a kernal of loyalty in a sport which has none is a huge advantage.  It gives players a higher purpose, a team-like sense of sacrifice of individual goals and wealth for the good of the team.  In the military, we call it “esprit de corps”.  It’s pride, fellowship, and common loyalty be each member of the group.

Now, the tone has changed.  On a team filled with youth, experience is the valued commodity.  Some of the players on the roster will not be with the Philadelphia 76ers going forward, and may not even be in the NBA at the beginning of this season.

And the change has not gone unnoticed by Dario Saric.  That change will bring hesitancy.  Does a young player with aspirations of playing for an NBA team truly want to sacrifice a small fortune?  Does that decision change if the NBA team has publicly professed that the team wants veterans, and finds the number of rookies to be practically unmanageable – knowing that the player would be a rookie?

Next: Road Show