NBA Team Culture

[Ferry Avenue]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6165202/2025/02/28/luka-doncic-jimmy-butler-and-the-culture-question-what-so-many-leaders-underestimate/?campaign=12766767&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=4525834&onboarded=true

[thomas1897]

The 76ers culture is building a strong development program with players who going to do the work necessary to succeed. Players such as Ricky Council have great skills but are not considered the best prospects to succeed. Dedication and hard work, preparation and mental awareness are the foundations. Having or developing a good basketball IQ is imperative. Ricky Council did not prepare his mind to be better and do the extra effort that is required. Justin Edwards is a good example of exceeding and learning within the program. Although Edwards has not arrived as a very good NBA player yet he is on the journey to get it done.

[Peak Brunson]

The culture thus far has been Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, not exactly a staple of success is it...

[Negrodamus]

I think if things go wrong for Embiid this year, this is his last year here. The Maxey, Edgecombe, McCain vibes are high and they prob won’t want to deal with Embiid being a downer anymore. The feeling will likely be mutual with Embiid.

[the_process]

I think if things go wrong for Embiid this year, this is his last year here. The Maxey, Edgecombe, McCain vibes are high and they prob won’t want to deal with Embiid being a downer anymore. The feeling will likely be mutual with Embiid.

I certainly hope so.

[76ciology]

Our team culture is like growing up in a family where the parents say, “Only the kids who finish at the top of the class get to stay.” And they’re always on the lookout for that perfect straight-A kid at school child. So the kids stop seeing each other as siblings, they see each other as threats. They don’t form real bonds, because anyone could be gone next year and they got so competitive that each one wants to be alpha, the favorite child who gets all the benefits of being one. And they stop trusting the parents too, because deep down, the parents are the ones who’ll decide which child stays and which one will get discarded. So everyone ends up focusing on themselves, not for the good of the family, but to make sure they’re not the one left behind.

And even the kid who does rise to the top, the one who survives and earns the praise, ends up shaped by that same system. He’s been trained to prioritize himself, to win alone, to protect what he’s earned. So when the family finally wants to come together and build something real, he can’t flip the switch. He doesn’t know how to bond with others. The very process that helped him survive also messed up his psychology.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Nearly twenty years later and I'm still trying to figure out how Mark Madsen had a nine year career in the league.

[thomas1897]

Management: Who’s Steering the Ship?
Daryl Morey – President of Basketball Operations
• Known for analytics-driven decision-making and bold roster moves.
• Brought in stars like Paul George to pair with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
• Despite past playoff disappointments, Morey remains committed to building a contender.
Nick Nurse – Head Coach
• Former NBA champion with Toronto.
• Emphasizes defensive intensity, ball movement, and adaptability.
• Tasked with creating a consistent identity despite injuries to Embiid and George.
Culture Shift: Led by Tyrese Maxey
Tyrese Maxey has emerged as the emotional and cultural leader of the team:

• He’s pushing for a standard of effort and consistency, regardless of who’s on the floor.
• Maxey’s leadership is seen as the glue holding the team together during uncertain times.

Challenges to Culture
• Injuries: Embiid and George have missed significant time, disrupting team chemistry.
• Fan frustration: Despite a high ceiling, enthusiasm is low due to past playoff collapses and inconsistency.
• Identity crisis: The team is trying to shed its reputation for underperformance and build a resilient, winning culture.
How Each Player Fits Without Embiid
Andre Drummond – Veteran Insurance
• Role: Situational backup and rebounder
• Strengths: Elite rebounding, physicality, experience
• Limitations: Limited mobility and spacing; best in short bursts
• Projection: 10–15 minutes per game, especially against traditional bigs
Johni Broome – Rookie Wild Card
• Role: Developmental big with upside
• Strengths: Shot-blocking, rebounding, soft touch around the rim
• Limitations: Adjusting to NBA speed and physicality
• Projection: 8–12 minutes early in the season, with potential to grow into a rotation role
Adem Bona – Athletic Sleeper
• Role: Primary backup center if Embiid is out
• Strengths: High motor, rim protection, defensive versatility
• 2024–25 Stats in 11 starts: 14.8 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.4 BPG, 1.2 SPG in 30.5 minutes
• Projection: 20–25 minutes per game if Embiid is sidelined

Strategic Outlook
• Bona is the most likely to start in Embiid’s absence due to his athleticism and defensive upside.
• Drummond provides stability, especially against physical centers.
• Broome offers long-term potential but will need time to adjust.
If Embiid misses extended time, expect the Sixers to run more switch-heavy defensive schemes, rely on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George for scoring, and use this trio to hold the paint down by committee.

[FlyingArrow]

Our culture is to severely damage our draft picks, whether injuring them, mentally damaging them, or nearly killing them with allergies. It's all on the table.