Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Sixers are reaping benefits of hard work | Cooney

SWEAT EQUITY. Those two words, that tiny phrase, are what Brett Brown built his career on while director of player development with the San Antonio Spurs and it was the main item he packed when he left there to become the head coach of the 76ers in the late summer of 2013.

SWEAT EQUITY.

Those two words, that tiny phrase, are what Brett Brown built his career on while director of player development with the San Antonio Spurs and it was the main item he packed when he left there to become the head coach of the 76ers in the late summer of 2013.

He was hired by then-general manager Sam Hinkie to not only be the overseer of one of the biggest teardown/rebuilds in the history of sports, but to be able to grow the marginally talented players Hinkie was going to collect with his bevy of draft picks and managerial moves that brought in many, many players seemingly more destined for careers in the Development League or overseas than regular minutes in the NBA.

The start of this season seemed no different when looking at the roster. Though the excitement of the season hinged on and was ultimately deflated by injuries to Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, much of the surrounding cast was as questionable as the health of those star players. Robert Covington, originally brought in because of his scoring ability, wasn't known to be the all-around player he has become. T.J. McConnell was still a question mark to make the team. Richaun Holmes was the fourth head on a three-headed center monster, and Nik Stauskas was an afterthought to most.

While the knee injury that shut down Embiid in midseason and the foot fracture that sidelined Simmons before the season began are the overriding stories of this campaign, the player development that has taken shape is, to the organization, just as big a story.

"This coaching staff, with how much time they put into our individual growth, is incredible," said McConnell. "They are there for you every day, so how could you not want to put the work in. It's the reason that this year I've kind of taken off a little bit. When they continue to work with you, and continue to work with you, it has to help you. We put in so much work that it's been great for all of us.

"I don't necessarily look for results. I just do what they ask me to do. I know what they're doing works. I trust them, we all trust them and we love getting in the gym every day with them."

McConnell might not look for results, but they've been plentiful for many this season. Covington has proved to be one of the better perimeter defenders in the league, while still being able to put up good scoring numbers. He's also improved his rebounding and shot-blocking. McConnell, thrust into the starting lineup this season with the injuries to Simmons and Jerryd Bayless and by outplaying Sergio Rodriguez, has proved more than capable. Holmes has made the Nerlens Noel trade to Dallas a little easier to swallow, and makes the unknown future of Jahlil Okafor not so concerning. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, despite long stretches of watching from the bench early in the season, has become a real person of interest moving forward.

The improvements come from endless hours of tedious individualized workouts, hours and hours of watching video and a nonstop commitment from the coaching staff on player development.

Sweat equity.

"It's just the real-time reminder that collective effort, collective mindsets, trump individual stuff," said Brown. "When you have collective mindsets and attitudes and performance, it truly can trump deficiencies. This team has fought in a higher weight class all year.

"T.J. has had a heck of a year and has improved. Timmy Luwawu has had a heck of a year and has improved. Go back to Robert and what he's done. Dario (Saric), as we've said, how can the rookie of the year not go through Philadelphia? Look at what Richaun Holmes has done. Look at what Shawn Long has done since he's come back to this. Nik Stauskas is now a point guard and has had a heck of a year. There's not anybody that you say had a rough year this year. Not any of them. That collective stuff trumps individual stuff and we have exceeded expectations and have milked and squeezed everything possible out of this group. I'm enamored with these guys. I respect them. I enjoy coaching them."

So when the likes of Embiid, Simmons and Bayless, along with a draft pick or two, take the floor next season, the group backing them will be far more prepared than most would have imagined before this season. And anyone who knows the league a little respects the value depth brings to a team.

"I've got, like, nine or 10 guys that we can legitimately move forward," said Brown. "There wasn't that many (in prior years) when we were circling three or four, maybe five. This year is different. For that reason, you feel like the corporate knowledge and the purpose of what we're teaching and how we're growing these guys has a greater chance to be with us next year.

"I love it (player development). It's my background. It's where you establish relationships and where sweat equity comes into play. You're trying to help these guys get better. It's how I think you hold a locker room together. How can somebody not appreciate a coaching staff truly wanting to help them? That sort of philosophy has served us well during my time here. It was said in the third or fourth paragraph when I sat in a press conference accepting the position. This position revolved in development for the stages where we are at. This is a really good example of holding that thought and seeing this through."

cooneyb@phillynews.com

@BobCooney76

Blog: philly.com/Sixersblog