Sixers 2019 Media Day: The Quick Hits
The NBA is back. With the Sixers set to host the Guangzhou Lions on October 8th, the team finally reported for media day today and all Sixers fans got the chance to hear each player’s goals and outlook for the upcoming season.
With a number of newcomers added to a core of already fan-favorites, excitement levels for the upcoming season are at an all-time high. There are several storylines to note and quotes to hear from today’s media session, so let’s jump right in.
Joel Embiid’s Lofty Aspirations and Healthy Body
After a playoff stretch riddled with sickness and injury, Joel Embiid dedicated himself to his body this offseason. The big man said he lost 25 pounds this summer before gaining 5 pounds of muscle thereafter. Embiid explained that he is entering training camp feeling confident about his health and longevity.
Similarly, he has huge aspirations for the upcoming season. As far as games played, Embiid wants to eclipse his previous high of 64 games this season. In those games, Joel is prioritizing getting the number one seed and helping this team win a championship. Oh yeah, he also wants to win Defensive Player of the Year and the NBA MVP as well.
Mike Scott Addresses Eagles Game Situation
It has been well-documented that Mike Scott had an unfortunate interaction while at the Eagles Redskins game earlier this fall and Scott addressed the incident right away. He said as the professional, he should have walked away from the scene.
“I definitely have to be the bigger person, it should never have gotten to that point, I definitely should have walked away.”
Despite the interaction, Scott still feels a strong connection to Eagles and Philadelphia fans everywhere. He will continue to keep it real with the fans and media and although the altercation was upsetting to discuss, Scott’s excitement for the upcoming season was still very apparent.
Tobias Harris: A Leader and a Defender
Upon the conclusion of last season, Tobias Harris vowed to Coach Brett Brown that he was going to be better on defense this season. And according to Tobias, that’s exactly what he has worked on this summer. He prioritized his lateral quickness and ability to stay low on defense and feels as though in early five on five pickup games in the complex, he has already felt better on the defensive end.
Harris then moved on to talk about team chemistry and establishing himself as a leader for this group. He stressed his desire to become best friends with each one of his teammates in order to create direct and comfortable communication in the locker room and on the court. He is looking forward to being in a comfortable environment after last season and now feels as though he can really help the team moving forward.
Josh Richardson: A Do-It-All Guy
While most associate Josh Richardson with solely gritty defense, Sixers fans will quickly find out that he can be much more than a lockdown defender. He is eager to help cover up the Sixers’ difficulties with containing quick guards, but he also established his willingness to play backup point guard. He has experience doing it in college and every so often did so in Miami as well.
He stressed the fact that he is not coming here to replace Jimmy Butler or JJ Redick. He wants to add his own unique skill set to this team. He will bring intensity and heart every single night, a trait Philadelphia fans will quickly come to love.
Ben Simmons Ready to Move Forward
“I’m locked in. I don’t know what it is, but I feel ready.”
That should make every Sixers fan run through a brick wall. Ben Simmons is poised for a huge season this year and feels as comfortable as he has so far in his professional career. After dedicating himself to his jump shot and offensive game, he is ready to become more well-rounded. Regarding jump shots and specifically three-pointers, Ben simply said: “If it’s open, I’ll take it.”
It’s obvious that Simmons has matured this summer. He said at points in the past few seasons, he let noise and media get to his head about his jump shot. But now, he does not care about those distractions and was able to put them aside and work hard on his game.
Ben seems to have a serious direction with his game after a productive offseason. He appears much more focused and less concerned with trying to fit into the NBA landscape. He stressed his excitement to return to Philadelphia for the next five seasons and what he wants to do in his time here in Philly: Win rings. Get ready for a breakout year from the 23-year-old.
Quick Hits
- Al Horford dubbed Joel Embiid the best big man in the league right now and calls it, “a dream come true” to be able to play with him
- Rookie Matisse Thybulle rolled his ankle just about a week ago, but he said it feels healthy and he is excited to find a role here in Philadelphia
- Zhaire Smith and Thybulle are forming a unique bond in which Smith has been consulting Thybulle on ways to improve his off-ball defense
- Trey Burke spoke about how blessed he feels to play in the same jersey as his childhood idol, Allen Iverson, and wants to channel Allen’s “chip on the shoulder” mentality every night
- Furkan Korkmaz sees an opportunity for himself to be a three-point sniper on this team and has gained almost 15 pounds this offseason even while playing in the FIBA World Cup
With practice set to begin tomorrow, there will be many more storylines to follow in anticipation of the Sixers October 23rd regular-season opener against the Boston Celtics.
Stay tuned for more coverage and get excited for what should be a tremendous season of Sixers basketball.
Featured Image: CBS Sports
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