4. Dario Saric
Ryan Callahan
Although he delayed his NBA debut for two years, much to the chagrin of impatient Sixer fans, the wait for Dario Saric was well-worth it. In a little over two seasons in Philadelphia, Saric averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while converting 35.1 percent of his three-point attempts.
Those numbers don’t jump off the box score, but it’s not necessarily how many points he scored that made The Homie a fan-favorite. His unmatched hustle and grit, combined with a knack for knocking down timely shots made him one of the most important players on the 2017-18 Sixers that won 52 games. Super Dario was arguably the best player on the team in the Eastern Conference Semifinals that year as well.
In a way, Dario is the personification of “The Process”. His career with the Sixers is a story of patience and acceptance. Fans waited two years to see if this lottery pick could even play and boy, could he. He wasn’t particularly flashy, but he knew how to play the game the right way. He did everything asked of him and never took a play off.
When it became clear that the Sixers needed to improve, he was included in a trade package sent to Minnesota for Jimmy Butler. Trading away one of the best “Process-era” Sixers hurt, but it was for the best as the team probably wouldn’t have gotten to game seven against the eventual champion Toronto Raptors without making the deal. Maybe a Dario reunion is written in the stars somewhere, but for now he remains one of the hardest losses of “The Process”.
3. T.J. McConnell
Ashley Foltz
It’ll be odd watching a Sixers game this season and not seeing number 12 out on the court diving to keep a ball in bounds or being an absolute pest on defense. The undrafted free agent, Timothy John McConnell, had won over the hearts of Philly fans when the 76ers were at their worst. He was there to lift spirits during the 10-win season, all the way to the Sixers putting up a fight against the 2018-19 champs in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (that shot still haunts me).
McConnell was a crucial part of the Sixers’ “Process” to get them to where they are today. In his first two seasons (2015-16 and 2016-17), the 6-foot-2 point guard played a significant role on the team with his playmaking ability. Brett Brown and McConnell grew a special bond during these seasons. Brett knew he had a player that would always give his all on the court on any given night.
As the team evolved over the past two seasons, McConnell developed into the burst of energy off the bench that ignited the team when needed. We hope to see McConnell keep doing his thing as he joins the Indiana Pacers this season.