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Brett Brown's job now is to build a winning culture on Sixers

Along with the talent to turn the Sixers into a winning team, Brett Brown knows his young players need leadership and nurturing.

Markelle Fultz and team president Bryan  address the media at Sixers’ practice facility.
Markelle Fultz and team president Bryan address the media at Sixers’ practice facility.Read moreAssociated Press

It was always so much more than just the product on the court for Brett Brown. When he was being courted by then-general manager Sam Hinkie for the 76ers head-coaching job, Hinkie would not allow Brown to see the 76ers practice facility at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, to mingle among the students hustling to classes, to see the undersized weight rooms, the crammed training spaces.

Brown signed a four-year guaranteed deal (and since a two-year extension) without a visit up City Avenue to PCOM. He made it clear to Hinkie that a world-class training facility, like the one he left in San Antonio that made his job as overseer of player development so enjoyable, was imperative. He envisioned a place where players not only had to gather, but wanted to spend most of their time. A place where families could convene, movies could be watched, video games played, meals consumed. In San Antonio, that is where games grew through practice, but, just as important, culture was created. Players wanted to be with one another. Coaching could be done at all hours of the day. Winning ultimately became expected.

Yes, talent had a lot to do with that, obviously, but Brown firmly believes culture is as big a factor to winning as any 7-2 center, 6-10 point guard or No. 1 draft pick: "The rules have changed, from talent to practice facility to future."

Thursday, the team strengthened its roster by selecting its dream fit in 6-4 guard Markelle Fultz, out of the University of Washington. The team envisions him on the court, seamlessly blending with Ben Simmons in a backcourt that now boasts two players who are extremely good ballhandlers and can pass the ball extremely well. Brown will look for Fultz to be that breakdown offensive player when needed, a shooter when open.

But all that is on-the-court expectations. The other part of all the organizational growth comes away from gym, where culture is at the forefront. It can be done in a brand-new, gorgeous practice facility in Camden and also with players many of whom are around the same age, who possess unimaginable talent.

As Fultz made his way onto the makeshift stage Friday to meet the Philadelphia media for the first time, you couldn't help but notice the awe in his eyes as he strode across the sparkling courts at the practice facility.

"This is truly an honor to come here for me," Fultz said. "I've been through a lot growing up, and I'm just looking forward to come to the city and giving my all."

Other pieces are needed to build culture, as Brown can't do it all himself. He knows that. Team president Bryan Colangelo knows that, and both think it can be addressed in free agency.

"Those young guys need nurturing, they need veteran leadership," said Brown. "To think that you're going to go into a season with a 19-year-old (Fultz), a 20-year-old (Simmons) and Joel Embiid. As much as we love him and see how special he is, the reality is those three have played a cumulative 31 games. Holding a locker room, growing those guys and helping them navigate NBA life and NBA games is a very powerful message when it comes from a player. Trying to identify veterans that have the ability to nurture and help those three especially is one of the main priorities.

"We will never go away from the need for shooters. When you look at Ben and you look at Joel and you look at Markelle, you ask what is the common denominator that on the court can help them succeed best? It's space. If you can have a hybrid of both worlds, you look at veteran shooters, people that can come in and provide that type of leadership. There is still a large part of this growth that will happen organically and not be force-fed."

A few of those organic pieces were on the floor of the practice facility before the introductory news conference of Fultz, Andzejs Pasecniks and Jonah Bolden. Simmons put up some shots, then did a strong workout in the weight room adjacent to the courts. Other players drifted in the wings, waiting for the courts to be cleared, so the daily workout can get done. That is the culture that has been built so far, and appears to be in a good place to get even better.

"The adamance and importance that I place on building a culture still is ever-present," said Brown. "I think we're a lot closer, because you can touch people and you can look at people. So for that reason, I arrived (Thursday) thinking we're a lot further along than we've ever been, clearly.

"The reality of the youth is real. You're going to have to be patient to get through some stuff there."

Still, he acknowledged an atmosphere of excitement that the team "has pieces now that are young and pliable and we've got variety and versatility."

"We are way further along," he said. "It doesn't diminish when you say, 'Now it's just basketball.' For me, it's still the underbelly that sets programs apart.

"There's a cultural aspect of how you lift weights, how you go watch videotape, how you interact with teammates. Trying to morph these 20-year-olds and still never letting that belief go makes it just a little bit more than just basketball. But we've got a lot more to work with than we used to."