Respect all, fear none
The secret to winning authority in a diverse group is to maintain your integrity. The key to integrity is to respect everyone. When his star center vents on social media about not playing? Coach Brett Brown did not react nor splash editorial commentary on the matter. He respected his player’s perspective.
Sixers coach Brett Brown on Joel Embiid Venting on Instagram:
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) April 17, 2018
“He just wants to play basketball... he wants to play in front of the fans... when he’s not able to do that he gets frustrated and I respect his frustration” https://t.co/uAiY2tfcjy
And it’s not just in managing his players. He respects opponents too.
Brett Brown: “I’m always blown away by Dwyane Wade... He’s class. He’s someone I respect.” He said you always wonder when he’s going to be done, but he’s still got it.
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) April 24, 2018
But respect is not fear. One of the most incredible attributes of this team, directly from their head coach, is the belief that they can beat anyone. Even the 10-72 season, the Philadelphia 76ers played hard all the way to the final buzzer.