The Sixer Sense
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J.J. Redick’s comments further validate the Sixers’ culture

By Christopher Kline

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 16: J.J. Redick #4 and Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers wait on the court during their game against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on March 16, 2016 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 16: J.J. Redick #4 and Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers wait on the court during their game against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on March 16, 2016 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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Joel Embiid, Brett Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers‘ culture seems to have had a sizable influence on J.J. Redick’s decision to join the team this summer.

The Process is continuing to build towards results. With one of the league’s best young cores now in place, the Philadelphia 76ers are now becoming a legitimate free agency destination for veterans. Their impending success isn’t the only reason a name like J.J. Redick was willing to sign onto a one year deal, though. It’s their culture.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

Much of this ties back to Joel Embiid, who has been the solidifying force in one of the league’s youngest locker rooms ever since getting drafted back in 2014. Giving himself the moniker that most Sixers fans have rallied around in years past, Embiid’s glowing personality and general positivity has clearly had an impact on how this Philadelphia team approaches the game.

Rather than sulking through another losing season, the team went through a cultural revitalization in lieu of the Cameroonian’s debut last season. Their defensive effort skyrocketed even further, while the entire team oozed an overwhelming sense of optimism that simply doesn’t come from most organizations that are situated towards the bottom of the totem pole, as the ever-articulate LaVar Ball would say.

Embiid has played 31 games in three years, yet has already established himself as the focal point of a Philadelphia culture that seems to embrace the foremost characteristics of the city itself. The team grinds hard, and the guys on the team seem to enjoy the company of their teammates, both on and off the court.

From late night workouts to harmless video game spats on Instagram Live, Embiid seems to have given the Sixers a jolt of energy that this long-rebuilding squad was in desperate need of. He was always a voice of positivity during a time where not much was going right for Philadelphia, and now their most recent improvement has done little more than highlight the sheer magnitude of Embiid’s influence over the organization.

Embiid, however, wasn’t the only figure who played a part in Redick’s decision, as Redick himself claimed that is was Brett Brown who inevitably swayed him in the Sixers’ direction. With all the attention (rightfully) focused on Embiid’s presence in the locker room, Brown’s actions have likely gone overlooked far too often.

As a former assistant to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, Brown — who has worked extensively with the Australian National Team in the past — clearly has a strong pedigree at his position. Not only is his system similar to Pop’s, but his approach in the locker room bears many resemblances as well. The Sixers’ grittiness and on-court harmony has always stemmed from Brown’s presence, and his combination of systematic know-how and overarching personality is something a player like Redick can come to appreciate.

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The Sixers’ culture is something that, in time, could be the hallmark of this team as they continue to trend towards competitiveness. Teams who get along on and off the floor tend to perform at a higher level than teams who don’t, and we’ve seen the immense success that can come from a strong environment on a daily basis. Last year’s Miami Heat team is a prime example of what culture can do.

Philadelphia is still a long way from competing for an NBA championship. We still haven’t seen what Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz can do against professional competition, while their youth in general will keep them out of the Cavaliers and Warriors’ realm for at least the next handful of seasons.

But as Embiid and the remainder of their core continues to blossom, the tone around the organization will translate into increased success. Veterans will want to play here, and the core they have in place will ideally convince them further.

Next: Who is J.J. Redick's backup?

This Sixers team is heading in the right direction, and it’s what they’re doing off the court that’s aiding them in doing so.