Philadelphia 76ers: The Sam Hinkie Manifesto
By Bret Stuter
page 13
Philadelphia has been wonderful to our family. Two of our children were born here. Lincoln said
that to meet with the public “renewed in me my perceptions of responsibility and duty.” Those words rang hollow until we moved here and I talked with our fans. Everywhere I went, lifelong Sixers fans told me stories about how they wanted the team to be good again—really good.
It’s clear now that I won’t see the harvest of the seeds we planted. That’s OK. Life’s like that. Many
of my NBA friends cautioned me against the kind of seed sowing that felt appropriate given the
circumstances for exactly this reason. But this particular situation made it all the more necessary, though. Part of the reason to reject fear and plow on was exactly because fear had been the dominant motivator of the actions of too many for too long.
I will be repotted professionally. That is often uncomfortable; most growth is. But it’s also often healthier over the longer sweep of history, too
In the interim, I’ll probably be with my wife and kids for a few weeks. If you need to reach me— now or later—I am available at and I suspect someday soon on Twitter via @samhinkie.
I wish you the best of luck. Like other Sixers fans, I will cross my fingers for you on lottery night in
New York.
Summary
In the end, Sam Hinkie has gone on to hopefully greener pastures. But the seeds he has sown are germinating before our eyes. Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and even the pick that pulled Ben Simmons to Philly. Like Moses, he has take the team to the promised land, but is himself forbidden to enter.
If the team finds success, he will be given a second chance.