Tag: Philadelphia 76ers

Philly fans loved Jason Kelce’s passionate rant against the Sixers’ controversial Center City arena plan

Even Jason Kelce is speaking out against the Sixers’ upcoming move to Center City.

The Philadelphia 76ers have put into motion plans to move the team to Center City, but many fans aren’t happy with the notion. And now, add Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce to the mix.

On Wednesday, Philadelphia mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced that she has approved a plan that would move the Sixers to a new arena in the Chinatown district of Center City. The arena, set to be named 76 Place and opened in 2031, has been in the works for some time under team owner Josh Harris. Over the years, the Sixers have flirted with leaving the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia to a new stadium across the river in Camden, New Jersey, but Wednesday’s deal is set to keep the team in the city.

However, the deal is quite controversial. It’s well-known that the city’s four major sports teams all currently play in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex set 3.5 miles from downtown. The Sixers’ upcoming move would separate them from Philadelphia’s iconic sports complex, which has housed the city’s sporting teams for decades. Plus, the move into Center City is set to displace Chinatown residents to build the arena and likely add traffic congestion to downtown.

All in all, Philadelphia residents aren’t pleased with the plan. And on Thursday, Kelce added his voice to the mix as he vocalized his displeasure with the Sixers’ downtown move on a local Philadelphia radio show, 94WIP.

“They’re strong arming the city, what do you do? Do you risk losing the Sixers? It just sucks! The ownership group isn’t Philadelphian. He’s got a New Jersey Devils team, a Philadelphia team and now a Washington team. And now they’re forcing the city to do what this guy wants and it sucks! Like I said, at the end of the day, I think we’re all going to be really happy with it. I do think that, other than the people that get displaced out of Chinatown and the people that aren’t going to be able to live there anymore … Part of this is growing up in Cleveland and I lost a football team for three years. I just don’t think that amount of disrespect towards the citizens that allow you to have this team is appropriate.”

Kelce even expanded upon his thoughts on Twitter after his radio segment went viral.

As of now, the Sixers’ new arena isn’t a done deal yet, as Philadelphia’s City Council will also have to approve the plans. Philadelphia sports fans, at the very least, are happy a high-profile voice is speaking out on this issue.

All-ACC star guard signs Exhibit 10 deal with Philadelphia 76ers

Syracuse guard Judah Mintz signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

The Philadelphia 76ers signed former Syracuse Orange guard Judah Mintz to an Exhibit 10 deal on Sunday, according to a team announcement.

Mintz starred at Syracuse for two seasons, earning All-Freshman honors after averaging 16.3 points and 4.6 assists for the Orange in Jim Boeheim’s final season in 2022-23.

He stuck with Syracuse when Red Autry took over in 2023-24, and it paid off as Mintz improved statistically across the board – averaging 18.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game.

The 6’3 guard went undrafted after declaring for the NBA draft, ultimately joining the Sixers for summer league where he showcased his strong mid-range game, pesky defensive traits, and elite ability to get to the free throw line. He posted averages of 9.5 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in 19.2 minutes per game.

Exhibit 10 deals can be converted to two-way contracts before the start of the NBA regular season, which would allow Mintz to play for both the Delaware Blue Coats and 76ers during the season.

Currently Philadelphia has former Kentucky wing Justin Edwards, former Memphis forward David Jones, and NBA veteran and former Rhode Island guard Jeff Dowtin on two-way deals.

On this date: Celtics sign PJ Dozier to two way contract, win Game 3 of Disney bubble first round vs. 76ers

On this day in Celtics history, PJ Dozier inked a two-way deal, and Boston beat the Sixers in the Disney bubble.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, shooting guard PJ Dozier would sign a two-way deal with the team in 2018. An alum of his hometown University of South Carolina, Dozier had gone undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, signing with the Los Angeles Lakers for their Summer League team.

After stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2017-18 season, the Columbia native landed with the Celtics, inking a deal for one season. While with Boston, Dozier made the All-NBA G League team with the Maine Red Claws (the Celtics’ developmental affiliate in the G League, now the Maine Celtics), the equivalent of the All-Star team in that league.

Boston declined to extend his contract at the end of the season, and Dozier moved on to the Denver Nuggets, for whom he still plays. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game with the team.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

76ers’ Paul George names Nets’ Nic Claxton as dynamic NBA big man

Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton is considered a dynamic NBA big man by Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George that could unlock Trae Young.

The Brooklyn Nets are moving forward with their plan to rebuild around some of their younger players as they try to find their next group impact players in the NBA Draft. One of the players that Brooklyn has invest almost nine figures in this summer is being recognized for his ability to contribute on the floor.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George recently had Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young on “Podcast P with Paul George” and one of the topics discussed was how the Hawks could build around Young heading into the future. In the clip posted below, George mentions that what unlocks Young’s game is having a dynamic big man and the first name that comes out of his mouth is Nets center Nic Claxton.

“I think what unlocks your game so much is having a dynamic big… say you had like a Nic Claxton,” George said. While dynamic could have different meanings in terms of describing a basketball player, it seems that in this context, George means dynamic in terms of athleticism when he refers to Claxton.

“Dynamic roller, locks up, controls the paint, great screen-setter, you can just play shooters around you at that point,” George continued. To be clear, this conversation isn’t good George or Young suggesting that a trade happens so that Claxton and Young can play together, but it is notable that George’s first player that would be a good fit with Young is Claxton.

Heading into the upcoming 2024-25 season, Claxton will be coming in with some heightened expectations now that he is getting paid like the dynamic big man that George and others have dubbed him to be at this point of his career. Earlier this summer, the Nets re-signed Claxton to a four-year, $97 million contract, ranking him as the 12th highest-paid center in the NBA as of this writing.

[lawrence-related id=59678,59676,59673]

What to expect when the Celtics play the Sixers on Christmas Day

What can fans expect when the Boston Celtics face the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day?

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Boston Celtics will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day. The matchup will pit the fierce rivals against each other in what will be a marquee matchup. Of course, on paper, the Sixers project to be a vastly improved team next season.

Daryl Morey has added Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond, Caleb Martin and Paul George to the roster. As such, if healthy, the Sixers should match up well against Joe Mazzulla’s team, especially in terms of wing defense, where Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will likely take turns guarding George.

In the latest episode of the “Vitamin C” podcast, hosts Adam Taylor and Tim Sheils discuss potential matchups between the Celtics and Sixers. They dive into where each team will have an advantage, which bench unit is stronger and how the Celtics can look to exploit Joel Embiid on both sides of the ball.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SGM4MK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dBiNuJ

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=590969568 tag=648387929]

“Ravens are the 76ers” take can be very easily refuted

You can now tweet that “here is the attention that you ordered” meme at ESPN Betting Analyst Joe Fortenbaugh

The show is called “First Take” for a reason, but it may as well be called “hot taking,” because it is very clear that is what some of the program’s talking heads are doing.

It’s much more about presenting an argument that will go viral, due to its controversial nature, than it is making serious, salient points.

You can now tweet that “here is the attention that you ordered” meme at ESPN Betting Analyst Joe Fortenbaugh, who called the Baltimore Ravens the Philadelphia “76ers of the NFL.”

Fortenbaugh, in providing a take so hot that it will heat your entire home this winter, said there is no pressure on Lamar Jackson to ever actually win the Super Bowl, because “after six seasons, this is who he is.”

This cannot be a serious attempt at analysis. So where do we start with this nonsense?

How about with this chart, published on X by former Ravens.com editor Sarah Ellison.

As she points out, a majority of the QBs on the multiple MVPs list did not win their first Super Bowl until age 27 (Jackson’s current age), or later.

Peyton Manning- 30 years, 317 days

Steve Young- 34 years, 110 days

Kurt Warner-28 years, 222 days

Brett Favre- 27, 108 days

Aaron Rodgers- 27, 66 days

And although he did not win multiple MVPs, it is worth noting that another legendary quarterback, John Elway did not win his first Super Bowl until age 38.

Not to mention the fact that eight other multiple MVP award winners, in addition to Jackson, didn’t win a Super Bowl or haven’t won it yet.

So basically the argument here is: “if you haven’t won a Super Bowl, and you didn’t win it early in your career, well then you’re really nothing more than a glorified perennial also-ran.”

And also “this is who you are and what you’ll always be.”

That’s the essence of the argument, and it’s extremely flimsy, to say the least.

Finally, the 76ers are the NBA franchise that is most commonly associated with the concept of tanking, which makes Fortenbaugh’s analogy even more silly.

The Ravens are about as polar opposite of “tanking” as it gets.

 

 

Adem Bona wraps up NBA Summer League 2024

A good performance by Adem Bona.

Former UCLA Bruins big man, and now Philadelphia 76ers rookie Adem Bona finished up NBA Summer League over the weekend. Bona, who projects to be a backup for Joel Embiid put in some nice work over the summer. Here is a recap of his games in Vegas:

Game 1 against Detroit – Bona played 23 minutes, and was 4 for 4 from the field. Bona had 7 rebounds and finished with 8 points.

Game 2 against Portland saw Bona go 4 for 6, and once again score 8 points. He recorded four rebounds in the game. Bona had to learn a little defense in his 21 minutes, getting called for 7 fouls in the game. He also had three turnovers.

Game 3 was against Minnesota. In this game, he played 23:00 and once again was called for 7 fouls. Bona was 3 for 4 from the line and 4 for 4 from the free throw line. He scored 10 points and ripped down 9 rebounds in the game. He did turn it over 5 times.

The 4th game was against San Antonio. The 76ers won the game by 16 points. Bona was pretty quiet, taking 1 shot in 22:00. He scored a single point and had 3 rebounds in the game. He was +10 while on the court in this game.

Finally, his summer league finale on Sunday against the Celtics saw him score 2 points, and record 2 rebounds in a win.

The 76ers open the 2024-2025 season in late October. Their first preseason game is slated for October 11th in Iowa.

 

ESPN betting analyst says the Ravens are the ’76ers of the NFL’

The Ravens were called the Philadelphia 76ers of the NFL by an analyst

The Baltimore Ravens were an extremely dominant regular season team in 2023 but couldn’t get the job done when it mattered most in the playoffs. Their season came crashing down in their AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and it’s now back to the drawing board for the 2024 season.

On ESPN’s “First Take,” Joe Fortenbaugh put out a take comparing Baltimore to the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. He questioned who’s picking the Ravens in 2024, saying that it’s apparent who quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are after six seasons.

It’s no secret that Jackson has to be a more consistent playoff performer. However, there are plenty of examples of Hall of Fame signal callers winning their first Super Bowl far later into their career than Jackson is now, so there’s plenty of time for the former Louisville star to finish it.

Sixers officially sign No. 41 overall pick Adem Bona to rookie contract

Former UCLA center Adem Bona signed his rookie contract with the 76ers on Sunday.

Former UCLA center Adem Bona, the 41st pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed his rookie contract with the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, the team announced.

The contract is reportedly worth $8 million over four years, with a team option in the final season. He was likely signed via the second-round pick exception, which was introduced in the new collective bargaining agreement last year.

He was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year last season as a sophomore after averaging 12.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals on 58.8% shooting from the field. He ranked second in blocks and third in field-goal percentage.

Bona debuted with the Sixers this month in summer league, averaging 5.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in eight games between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. He ranked sixth in blocked shots among all players in Las Vegas.

The 6-foot-10 standout had a strong showing this month, proving why the team selected him in the second round with his elite rim protection. He has also displayed great instincts to anticipate plays on defense and looks to be grasping coverages and other reads very well.

Bona is still a bit raw offensively but has the skill set on defense to impact games next season. His progression and development throughout his rookie campaign should be worth watching.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=1415]

Sin City Celtics fall to Summer Sixers 103-98 in Las Vegas Summer League consolation game

It might have come n a loss, but Jordan Walsh had his breakout game.

The Boston Celtics did not make the postseason of the NBA’s 2024 Las Vegas Summer League with their play in Sin City, but they did manage to earn themselves a consolation tilt with the Summer Philadelphia 76ers.

Not that it would matter much, with the Sin City Celtics falling to the Summer Sixers 103-98, this despite the best game from second-year Boston wing Jordan Walsh (18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks). Guard Jaelen House (17 points, 4 boards, 6 assists) also had a good night off the bench. Forward Tyler Cook (16 points, 4 rebounds), forward Anton Watson (15 points, 4 boards, 3 assists), and wing Baylor Scheierman (13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) also had good games.

With the loss, the Celtics have completed their full slate of games in Las Vegas Summer League action with a 2-3 overall record.

And while such outcomes are less important than in other context, Boston got a good luck at several prospects it likely would want to bring into the team’s talent development pipeline.

How that shakes out over the next few days will signal what the Celtics’ front office values for their future rotation hopes.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=590969556]