Philadelphia 76ers: Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic are reunited

Everyone’s favorite Philadelphia 76ers friendship has some repairs to make.

It was only a matter of time. When it was announced that the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks would occupy the same hotel at Disney World, many knew the implications. It meant a Tobias Harris–Boban Marjanovic reunion.

Just last season, Harris and Marjanovic — better known at Tobi and Bobi — were packaged together and traded from LA to Philadelphia. They were already self-proclaimed BFFs, but the friendship seemed to blossom in the aptly-named City of Brotherly Love. A beautiful thing.

Dance videos, post-game interviews, and social media — everywhere the friendship could have blossomed, it did. Harris the bastion of knowledge and wisdom, Boban the timely comic relief. You couldn’t dream up a better pairing.

Then came the summer of 2019. A nightmare. The worst. A travesty of the highest order. Free agency.

Harris re-signed in Philadelphia on a massive five-year, $180 million contract. He was here to stay. Boban, however, took a different route. He signed a two-year, $7 million contract in Dallas, where he joined Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, and the Mavericks.

Some might have called it inevitable. Marjanovic never really had a long-term place in the Sixers rotation. And yet Tobi and Bobi felt like destiny — like an unbreakable pair impervious to separation. The news of Boban’s departure left many — Tobias included — in shambles.

The friendship has since deteriorated. Disturbing videos of Boban hanging out with new friends, such as Doncic or Maxi Kleber, have invaded the sanctuary of internet culture. And the unfortunate victim of this invasive material was Harris.

Just watch… if you can bear it.

https://twitter.com/YahooSports/status/1281602265804148736

And, if you thought it couldn’t get any worse. Any more disturbing. Watch this.

It’s clear Marjanovic has moved on. He has found new friends in new places. As for Harris, it’s not the same. He’s grieving. Grieving the loss of a sacred bond. Of a best friend. He took to Twitter to comment on Boban’s reckless socialization.

Thankfully for all involved, Harris has started the healing process.

However, the healing process is never easy, and sometimes you are forced to reckon with the demons of your past. For Harris, that meant coming across Boban — sorta — while stuck in Disney World quarantine. There’s no worse place for trauma than quarantine. It’s an unfortunate situation.

It brings a tear to the eye. Heartbreaking.

All we can hope for is a swift recovery for Harris. Basketball starts again soon, and the Sixers will need him down the stretch. Grief is a fickle mistress, and seldom a fruitful partner. Hopefully she doesn’t stick around too long.

As for Boban, he needs to find a matching pair of socks. If you’re going to flaunt your happiness in the face of a decaying relationship, at least have the courtesy to wear matching socks. It’s common etiquette.

Tobi and Bobi are reunited at last, albeit under non-ideal circumstances. We will see if the relationship can mend itself over the next few months. If not, Orlando could get ugly.

(Disclaimer: They’re totally still BFFs)