WEBVTT - The BroadCast: 9/24/2018 ~ Rolling Out the 'New School Tesla' 0:00:00.080 --> 0:00:02.360 In the parlor. It's a basketball ops. He's a new 0:00:02.480 --> 0:00:09.960 school Castila right there. I thought that comment from Josh 0:00:09.960 --> 0:00:13.280 Harris was great, one of the signature sound bites last 0:00:13.320 --> 0:00:16.800 week's press conference introducing the old school chevy Elk Brand 0:00:17.160 --> 0:00:20.840 as the fifteenth general manager in seventy six Ers history. Certainly, 0:00:21.200 --> 0:00:24.320 the thirty nine year old descent has been a ridiculously 0:00:24.400 --> 0:00:26.599 rapid one when you think about it. Listened two years ago. 0:00:26.600 --> 0:00:30.600 After all, Brand was still a seventy sixer himself beginning 0:00:30.640 --> 0:00:32.519 what would end up being the final training camp of 0:00:32.640 --> 0:00:35.120 his career. But as a seventeen year run in the 0:00:35.240 --> 0:00:38.239 NBA was wind again, Brand started becoming more and more 0:00:38.320 --> 0:00:41.440 interested in and in tune with the front office work, 0:00:41.640 --> 0:00:43.320 and when he was given a shot to interview with 0:00:43.320 --> 0:00:46.400 ownership about the GM opening earlier this month, he knew 0:00:46.400 --> 0:00:49.040 he had to step up faster than even I thought. 0:00:49.080 --> 0:00:52.040 But I was prepared and unprepared. Now now it'll be 0:00:52.080 --> 0:00:54.480 up to the two time All Star keep the Sixers 0:00:54.480 --> 0:00:59.000 moving along an auspicious path and towards the organization's desired destination. 0:00:59.040 --> 0:01:01.920 The Gold is the Brands Championship to these fans in Philadelphia, 0:01:02.080 --> 0:01:05.000 I'm committed to doing everything in my power and lead 0:01:05.000 --> 0:01:07.960 the team to that goal. Sit in with the recently 0:01:08.000 --> 0:01:13.240 minted new general manager of your Philadelphia seventy Sixers, Elton Brand, 0:01:13.720 --> 0:01:19.520 coming up on this edition of the broadcast. What's up everyone, 0:01:20.040 --> 0:01:23.600 Great to be talking with you on miss the first 0:01:23.680 --> 0:01:27.880 full week of preseason action for the seventy Sixers. Yes, 0:01:28.040 --> 0:01:32.200 training camp underway at the training complex in Campden, New Jersey. 0:01:32.680 --> 0:01:34.800 Coming up on Tuesday, we're gonna have the Blue and 0:01:34.840 --> 0:01:38.839 White Scrimmage presented by Independence Blue Cross at the Polestero. 0:01:38.920 --> 0:01:41.520 Hope you're able to get some tickets to that. And 0:01:41.560 --> 0:01:45.880 then later on this week on Friday, Sixers Melbourne United 0:01:46.360 --> 0:01:50.920 at the Center preseason game number one. Amazing that we 0:01:51.040 --> 0:01:54.000 are off and running. Brian Seltzer, welcoming you back to 0:01:54.000 --> 0:01:56.400 the podcast. Thank you for giving it a listen. We 0:01:56.480 --> 0:01:59.040 are going to speak with Elton Brand on this episode 0:01:59.040 --> 0:02:01.840 of the pod. And here's some other sound from people 0:02:01.880 --> 0:02:05.960 involved with Elton's career, his life the seventy sixers organization 0:02:06.680 --> 0:02:08.600 on what it means for him to have this new 0:02:08.960 --> 0:02:12.600 premier position in the seventy Sixers front office as general manager. 0:02:13.120 --> 0:02:15.320 But before we get to that, let us remind you 0:02:15.320 --> 0:02:17.799 that to subscribe to the podcast, you can do so 0:02:17.919 --> 0:02:24.399 in a couple different places Apple Podcasts, Google Play, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, 0:02:24.560 --> 0:02:27.840 tune in. Just type in Sixers Podcast Network and that 0:02:27.919 --> 0:02:31.560 will take you to our feed. Who knew that less 0:02:31.560 --> 0:02:34.480 than two years ago when the seventy Sixers offered Elton 0:02:34.520 --> 0:02:37.640 Brand the chance to stay involved with the organization shortly 0:02:37.639 --> 0:02:41.799 after his retirement with the position of player development consultant, 0:02:42.040 --> 0:02:45.400 that that would ultimately lead the way for Brand to 0:02:45.440 --> 0:02:48.880 become the face of the Sixers front office now as 0:02:48.960 --> 0:02:52.320 general manager. Before our interview with Elton Brand, let's go 0:02:52.440 --> 0:02:56.080 through a couple of soundbites surrounding Brand's appointment to the 0:02:56.080 --> 0:02:59.280 Sixers GM post a little bit more first from Sixers 0:02:59.280 --> 0:03:02.760 managing partner Josh Harris on what made Brand, in his mind, 0:03:02.800 --> 0:03:06.040 the perfect choice for a modern day general manager in 0:03:06.120 --> 0:03:09.240 the eyes of the Sixers ownership group. I think ultimately 0:03:09.720 --> 0:03:11.760 that you know, Elton was the best individual for the 0:03:11.880 --> 0:03:14.400 job across the board. There were many factors in it, 0:03:14.440 --> 0:03:17.080 but you know, everyone's aware of Elton's credentials as a 0:03:17.160 --> 0:03:20.200 player and how many years he spent in the NBA. 0:03:20.440 --> 0:03:24.160 But what we learned through the process of interviewing was 0:03:24.200 --> 0:03:26.679 that he had a great vision for how we could 0:03:26.680 --> 0:03:29.640 win a championship. He was a great leader. He was 0:03:29.800 --> 0:03:34.480 extremely well thought of internally and understood our culture and 0:03:34.520 --> 0:03:36.160 what we were trying to do. So all of those 0:03:36.200 --> 0:03:39.760 things were important. You start with integrity and with integrity, 0:03:39.760 --> 0:03:43.000 and if that's not you know, you know number one, 0:03:43.560 --> 0:03:45.520 then you know you don't do it. Obviously you don't 0:03:45.520 --> 0:03:49.120 get you don't always get it right. But yeah, I 0:03:49.200 --> 0:03:51.800 think that all of that stuff was important and he 0:03:51.840 --> 0:03:54.120 was a right guy for the job. Going back to 0:03:54.360 --> 0:03:58.720 Brand's announcement is GM, which is where Harris spoke last Thursday, 0:03:59.120 --> 0:04:02.840 the support Elton was obvious. I mean, it was really 0:04:02.840 --> 0:04:06.160 amazing to just see how many people packed the mezzanine 0:04:06.160 --> 0:04:09.680 section of the Sixers facility, which was where the press 0:04:09.680 --> 0:04:13.880 conference was held. You had players, you had coaches, you 0:04:13.960 --> 0:04:20.240 had training staff, scouts, support staff also from the Sixers 0:04:20.279 --> 0:04:24.560 business building as well, so there was no doubt unanimous 0:04:24.600 --> 0:04:28.120 supports rallied behind Elton Brand. So let's hear from some 0:04:28.120 --> 0:04:30.400 of the voices who were in the crowd when Brand 0:04:30.560 --> 0:04:33.880 was rolled out as GM, beginning with Brett Brown, with 0:04:33.920 --> 0:04:36.080 whom Brand is going to have a very unique and 0:04:36.360 --> 0:04:40.760 important partnership. Brown speaking about some of his observations related 0:04:40.760 --> 0:04:43.679 to Brand going back to this past summer, and also 0:04:43.720 --> 0:04:46.760 an anecdote about Brand getting the backing of several of 0:04:46.760 --> 0:04:49.480 his colleagues Alex Rucker and Had Cohen and Mark Eversley, 0:04:49.760 --> 0:04:53.600 who were also bidding for the Sixers GM gig. The group, 0:04:53.680 --> 0:04:56.520 although they were all interviewing for the same position, are 0:04:56.520 --> 0:04:58.599 the ones that are like putting the hand up for Elton. 0:04:58.920 --> 0:05:02.279 You know, there was a incredible this thing I saw 0:05:02.520 --> 0:05:09.479 of friendship, collaboration, recognition of roles, understanding of sort of 0:05:09.480 --> 0:05:13.120 where we were at. And Elton amongst his peas you know, 0:05:13.279 --> 0:05:15.359 was one of the people that they were cheer leading. 0:05:15.400 --> 0:05:18.840 Foreign for me, just watching the group, watching Alton Brand 0:05:19.160 --> 0:05:21.920 in particular, and knowing the history that Elton has in 0:05:21.960 --> 0:05:25.080 the Late League and with the G League team, I 0:05:25.240 --> 0:05:28.680 felt confident, you know, like he's gonna be a GM. 0:05:28.720 --> 0:05:30.839 It was just a matter of when and who, and 0:05:30.920 --> 0:05:34.000 I'm thrilled it was with us. Seated pretty close to 0:05:34.040 --> 0:05:36.520 the front row of the seating area at the press 0:05:36.560 --> 0:05:39.800 conference for Alton Brand was David Fok And if you're 0:05:39.800 --> 0:05:41.760 not familiar with him, he is one of the true 0:05:42.200 --> 0:05:46.640 powerbrokers in the NBA. Big time agent Elton Brand one 0:05:46.680 --> 0:05:50.039 of his prominent clients in the late nineteen nineties early 0:05:50.080 --> 0:05:53.680 two thousands. It's the only representative Brand has ever had 0:05:53.720 --> 0:05:56.599 and David Fok was at the press conference for Elton 0:05:56.720 --> 0:06:00.040 and shared some comments about his relationship with Brand. I 0:06:00.080 --> 0:06:02.320 think Elton was one of the smattest players I've had it, 0:06:02.400 --> 0:06:05.240 that oportunity workflow, it I've worked for hundreds. I think 0:06:05.279 --> 0:06:13.320 Elton has spent a great deal of time in business ventures, 0:06:13.880 --> 0:06:18.960 both in and movies, music and venture capital. He was 0:06:19.120 --> 0:06:21.200 very intrigued by the business side, and I think just 0:06:21.279 --> 0:06:25.640 as a very natural evolution for him. Interview with Elton 0:06:25.760 --> 0:06:28.640 in a second, I promise, but just real quickly a 0:06:28.680 --> 0:06:32.760 couple more sound bites from some players who have perspective 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:35.520 on the type of person Elton Brand is. This was 0:06:35.760 --> 0:06:39.000 Joe Ellenbid. As soon as I heard the news, I 0:06:39.120 --> 0:06:43.600 just thought about two years ago. I remember dunking on them, 0:06:45.680 --> 0:06:49.000 and we actually talked about it when he got the job. 0:06:49.279 --> 0:06:52.680 When I texted him, I just remember dunking on him 0:06:52.760 --> 0:06:55.760 really bad, and I was like, that's that's crazy. And 0:06:55.920 --> 0:06:58.680 I was two years ago. In two years ago you 0:06:58.720 --> 0:07:01.560 were still playing with us and h he's a GM. 0:07:01.800 --> 0:07:06.839 That's much respect and I was happy for amazing crazy, 0:07:06.920 --> 0:07:12.560 but that's also the reality. So cool. And lastly, why 0:07:12.560 --> 0:07:15.560 don't we play this cut from new seventy six er 0:07:15.760 --> 0:07:19.240 Mike Mascalo, the Bucknell product, before coming to the seventy 0:07:19.240 --> 0:07:22.680 six ers this offseason, had only ever played in the 0:07:22.760 --> 0:07:25.120 NBA for the Atlanta Hawks, and during his early time 0:07:25.160 --> 0:07:28.400 there he overlapped with brand. He was a great teammate. 0:07:28.520 --> 0:07:31.080 He taught me a lot. We would play pick up 0:07:31.160 --> 0:07:33.600 throughout the year, which I wasn't getting a lot of minutes, 0:07:33.680 --> 0:07:36.280 just to stay in shape and everything. And I remember 0:07:36.280 --> 0:07:39.440 one time too, I'll never forget. It was my first 0:07:39.480 --> 0:07:43.040 full year with the Hawks, and I only played about 0:07:43.040 --> 0:07:45.960 half the games that regular season, and when I came 0:07:46.000 --> 0:07:49.960 back out during halftime to shoot, I was out just 0:07:50.000 --> 0:07:52.400 like shooting, you know, because that's like what you knew, 0:07:52.440 --> 0:07:54.520 just kind of get warmed up whatever. But but I 0:07:54.560 --> 0:07:58.480 hadn't played all game, and I probably hadn't played a 0:07:58.480 --> 0:08:00.720 few games before that too, so he I remember him 0:08:00.800 --> 0:08:03.080 being like, NA, just rebound, like pass the ball to 0:08:03.120 --> 0:08:06.280 your teammates, And I thought that was really cool because 0:08:06.280 --> 0:08:10.240 it's like you can still help your team by just 0:08:10.360 --> 0:08:12.360 like whatever the work work and you're rebounding because I'm 0:08:12.360 --> 0:08:14.160 passing in. But it was just it was so selfless 0:08:14.160 --> 0:08:17.320 and that was something I'll never forget, clearly Brand leaving 0:08:17.320 --> 0:08:22.640 a very positive and impactful impression on Mike Muscala. All right, 0:08:22.760 --> 0:08:25.840 let's get to it. Recorded on media Day last week, 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:31.320 here's our sit down with Elton Brand. Elton, first of all, congratulations, 0:08:31.360 --> 0:08:33.560 this has got to be a pretty exciting time for you. 0:08:33.920 --> 0:08:37.640 Thanks Bria. So we're gonna talk about the team, your vision, 0:08:37.800 --> 0:08:39.720 your thoughts on how things are. But I really wanted 0:08:39.720 --> 0:08:43.280 to begin by talking about you because my personal opinion, 0:08:43.679 --> 0:08:46.120 I thought the way you seemed up on the days 0:08:46.160 --> 0:08:52.720 the press conference stage, ADDIE's comfortable, humorous at times, Who 0:08:52.760 --> 0:08:55.600 are you and had a dad demeanor and your personality 0:08:55.640 --> 0:08:57.200 come together because to me, that's one of the first 0:08:57.240 --> 0:09:00.520 things that jumps off the page. I'm very confident myself, 0:09:00.520 --> 0:09:03.280 but at the same time, I'm humble, like I know 0:09:03.440 --> 0:09:06.440 that I'm not alone in this. It takes a great staff, 0:09:08.160 --> 0:09:10.880 great people, and I feel we have that we have 0:09:10.920 --> 0:09:13.000 some of the tops in their verticals around the league. 0:09:13.040 --> 0:09:16.280 So just knowing I have someone to lean on, someone 0:09:16.320 --> 0:09:19.520 to talk to, to help grow this organization. Coach Brett Brown, 0:09:19.679 --> 0:09:22.199 being with him, you know, playing with him, being around 0:09:22.320 --> 0:09:25.000 him for these years, that's just what we are. We're family. 0:09:25.080 --> 0:09:27.320 So I know that's where I get my comfort from. 0:09:27.360 --> 0:09:30.360 I know that we're together and we're unified. I'm trying 0:09:30.360 --> 0:09:33.560 to think back, at least throughout your professional career and 0:09:33.640 --> 0:09:37.880 your college career in basketball, that this high character reputation 0:09:38.160 --> 0:09:43.080 has always followed you someone of integrity, honesty. What you 0:09:43.120 --> 0:09:44.920 see is what you get if you think back in 0:09:44.960 --> 0:09:46.440 your life. Has it always been that way? Was there 0:09:46.440 --> 0:09:48.720 ever a point when Elton Brand ever made trouble or 0:09:48.760 --> 0:09:52.040 cause a ruckets or anything like? Absolutely? Absolutely, you know, 0:09:52.240 --> 0:09:55.760 just you grow up, you mature. There was sometimes that 0:09:57.000 --> 0:09:59.120 I've passed that threshold and said, look, I'm gonna try 0:09:59.160 --> 0:10:01.960 to be honest, always live with integrity, even if people 0:10:02.000 --> 0:10:05.160 don't like it or may not help propel me in 0:10:05.200 --> 0:10:07.400 a way, I still need to be honest for myself 0:10:07.440 --> 0:10:09.959 and and my mom. She helped instill that to me. 0:10:10.720 --> 0:10:13.600 What example did she said? How did she set that 0:10:13.640 --> 0:10:16.840 type of example? So a few times she was going 0:10:16.880 --> 0:10:19.240 to get the switch and I said, Mom, no, no, no, 0:10:20.600 --> 0:10:23.080 she's just said this. And always be honest with people. 0:10:24.000 --> 0:10:25.800 That would be a great trick to have, no matter 0:10:25.840 --> 0:10:28.360 what the situation, because you won't have to think about it, 0:10:28.400 --> 0:10:30.440 you won't have to remember any lives. Just be honest 0:10:30.480 --> 0:10:33.360 and be thoughtful and be fair. I know your mom, Daisy, 0:10:33.440 --> 0:10:35.920 she's been gone for about fifteen years now, But what 0:10:35.960 --> 0:10:38.280 would you think she would say of all this, how 0:10:38.320 --> 0:10:40.839 things have come together and especially in later this recent 0:10:40.840 --> 0:10:43.440 promotion that you received. Yeah, no, my mom is you know, 0:10:43.480 --> 0:10:47.360 smiling down and know she's so proud. You know, just 0:10:47.640 --> 0:10:51.120 give it all, stay focused and work hard, and you know, 0:10:51.160 --> 0:10:53.160 don't forget the morrows and the work I think that 0:10:53.240 --> 0:10:54.920 she helped in still with me, but I know she's 0:10:54.960 --> 0:10:58.760 happy and listening to managing partner Josh Harris talk about 0:10:58.800 --> 0:11:02.160 the selection process us and the package that you offered 0:11:02.440 --> 0:11:05.319 and the choice of you as general manager. Leadership was 0:11:05.320 --> 0:11:07.960 a word that was used a lot in your introductory 0:11:08.080 --> 0:11:11.199 press conference. How do you like to lead? What does 0:11:11.280 --> 0:11:14.680 leadership mean to you? You know, I like to lead. 0:11:14.960 --> 0:11:19.080 I like to lead in kind of a collaborative way. 0:11:19.440 --> 0:11:20.880 You know, at the end of the day, I make 0:11:20.920 --> 0:11:23.080 the call it's going to be me making a call, 0:11:23.160 --> 0:11:26.920 but everyone has input. I will take the input from 0:11:27.240 --> 0:11:31.640 analytics to relationships to players. But at the end of 0:11:31.640 --> 0:11:34.480 the day, I know that it's important to have great 0:11:34.480 --> 0:11:37.560 people around you, which I do have. I also like 0:11:37.679 --> 0:11:41.240 to delegate and elevate, like, listen, you can do this. 0:11:41.559 --> 0:11:43.920 You can do this. Know your role, you can do 0:11:43.960 --> 0:11:47.000 it and be strong at it. When you knew that 0:11:47.040 --> 0:11:49.520 there was a chance for you to go for this position, 0:11:49.559 --> 0:11:52.560 you said in the press conference, you stepped up right 0:11:52.600 --> 0:11:57.080 away as being that type of assertive person. Is that 0:11:57.120 --> 0:11:59.600 always something that's that's come naturally too? In one particular 0:11:59.600 --> 0:12:02.120 about this opportunity made you feel like it was something 0:12:02.120 --> 0:12:05.160 you couldn't pass up pursuing aggressively. Yeah, No, I felt 0:12:05.200 --> 0:12:08.400 I had to step up. There was two sides because 0:12:08.400 --> 0:12:10.719 I was also taking a risk. I could be in 0:12:10.800 --> 0:12:13.920 player development longer. I can be the GM of the 0:12:13.960 --> 0:12:16.440 Blue Coats. I could be VP of basketball operations for 0:12:16.440 --> 0:12:20.440 the Sixers and maybe have a five six year run 0:12:20.520 --> 0:12:23.200 and that level. On that level, hopefully someone else come 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:25.880 in and they'll keep me around. But for this group, 0:12:26.600 --> 0:12:29.120 the group that we have here currently that got us 0:12:29.160 --> 0:12:31.679 to this spot, I just felt like, Hey, if I 0:12:31.679 --> 0:12:34.160 have an opportunity to keep this core group together, and 0:12:34.240 --> 0:12:36.760 I'm talking about the core group off the court, I 0:12:36.840 --> 0:12:39.440 need to step up and just go for it. And 0:12:39.720 --> 0:12:42.000 that's what I did. Can you take us inside the 0:12:42.000 --> 0:12:44.480 interview room a bit? I mean, what was that? Like? 0:12:44.600 --> 0:12:47.599 I gotta imagine there were a lot of really accomplished 0:12:47.600 --> 0:12:50.520 people that you were in front of, and you probably 0:12:50.559 --> 0:12:52.440 only hit a certain amount of time to make an impressions. 0:12:52.440 --> 0:12:55.520 So what was that? Like? You know, the preparation was important. 0:12:55.559 --> 0:12:58.679 You know, I really prepared, looked that vision, looked a 0:12:58.800 --> 0:13:03.880 sample questions, talked to various GMS and agents and even owners. 0:13:03.920 --> 0:13:05.560 I called a few owners to say, hey, what are 0:13:05.559 --> 0:13:07.240 you looking for in a GM? Just so I was 0:13:07.280 --> 0:13:09.800 prepared if I did get the job, but also for 0:13:09.840 --> 0:13:12.920 the interview in the room. It started off Josh and 0:13:13.040 --> 0:13:17.760 myself first, then David Blitzer and myself first, and then 0:13:17.800 --> 0:13:19.360 I knew it got real when I was meeting with 0:13:19.440 --> 0:13:23.640 Scott O'Neil, Josh and David Blitzer together and the questioning changed, 0:13:23.920 --> 0:13:27.640 like it went from that vision and our player personnel 0:13:27.679 --> 0:13:32.120 to more, well, if you get the job, how would 0:13:32.120 --> 0:13:34.520 you handle this situation? And things of that nature. So 0:13:34.559 --> 0:13:36.559 that's when I said, Okay, I really do have a chance. 0:13:36.920 --> 0:13:40.120 Did you leave the interview feeling good? Yeah, I left 0:13:40.160 --> 0:13:42.800 the interview feeling good. I was confident. I wasn't sure 0:13:42.840 --> 0:13:44.520 I was going to get the job, but I know 0:13:44.559 --> 0:13:47.520 I put my best foot forward. Have you studied leadership 0:13:47.520 --> 0:13:50.200 over the course of your life. Who are some of 0:13:50.200 --> 0:13:51.920 the people that you have paid attention to some of 0:13:51.920 --> 0:13:56.040 your leadership influences. You know, of course the ex President Obama. 0:13:56.280 --> 0:13:59.440 You know the way he communicated that that was a 0:13:59.440 --> 0:14:04.319 great way to to, you know, lead, David Falk mentor mind, 0:14:04.360 --> 0:14:07.240 he's been great in the business of basketball, you know, 0:14:07.320 --> 0:14:11.079 his leadership, his skills to lead. And then I said, 0:14:11.200 --> 0:14:13.920 Brett Brown, he's a great leader. He's a great leader. 0:14:15.120 --> 0:14:17.280 People want to work for him, people want to give 0:14:17.320 --> 0:14:20.040 their best for him, and they exude that. You know, 0:14:20.040 --> 0:14:24.960 it's the environment that makes that happen. Let's discuss Brett 0:14:25.000 --> 0:14:27.680 a little bit more. He did look like a proud 0:14:28.600 --> 0:14:31.720 mentor figure, father figure off on the side during your 0:14:31.720 --> 0:14:33.800 press conference. You just really seem to be naturally and 0:14:33.880 --> 0:14:38.000 genuinely beaming. How does a partnership between the two of 0:14:38.000 --> 0:14:41.520 you make this whole organization and operation better. Yeah, GM 0:14:41.560 --> 0:14:43.640 and a coach, they always have a partnership. If you 0:14:43.800 --> 0:14:46.880 want to win, you can't have one without the other 0:14:46.920 --> 0:14:50.440 and be successful. So we are totally aligned. We're unified, 0:14:51.000 --> 0:14:53.960 and just having him in my corner really means a 0:14:53.960 --> 0:14:55.720 lot to me because it's not going to go anywhere 0:14:56.240 --> 0:15:00.000 if we're button heads and having discussions about who fits, 0:15:00.040 --> 0:15:03.240 two doesn't fit, So us being a line just helps 0:15:04.040 --> 0:15:06.960 helps everything just go a lot smoothly. Do you have 0:15:06.960 --> 0:15:09.800 an anecdote or a story of how he's advocated for 0:15:09.840 --> 0:15:12.760 you or supported you at any point during your association 0:15:12.800 --> 0:15:14.680 with the team the last couple of years since you return, 0:15:15.320 --> 0:15:17.920 So I'll give an anecdote about just recently. You know, 0:15:18.000 --> 0:15:21.040 when I was high into discussions and it could happen 0:15:21.080 --> 0:15:22.840 for me. He came right to me and said, look, 0:15:23.520 --> 0:15:25.320 you can do this. You will be great at it. 0:15:26.200 --> 0:15:28.680 You might make some mistakes at the beginning, but you 0:15:28.760 --> 0:15:31.040 own it and you grow into it. But you can 0:15:31.080 --> 0:15:33.320 do this and I would love to have you. And 0:15:33.320 --> 0:15:34.880 that meant a lot to me. This is before I 0:15:34.920 --> 0:15:38.600 even you know, it was finalized that I would get 0:15:38.600 --> 0:15:41.520 the job. Let's talk about this year's team. What do 0:15:41.520 --> 0:15:44.480 you see, we have our core, we have our young 0:15:44.560 --> 0:15:47.680 core their first year playing in the playoffs. They're going 0:15:47.720 --> 0:15:51.080 to develop and grow our accomplished vets of course, Ben 0:15:51.160 --> 0:15:52.960 and Joe, well that's what I'm talking about, and our 0:15:53.000 --> 0:15:56.600 accomplished vets will add to that mode. They're hungry. We 0:15:56.680 --> 0:15:59.480 did not like the way we ended that season, so 0:15:59.320 --> 0:16:01.360 I'm gonna I'm excited to see a lot of growth. 0:16:01.480 --> 0:16:05.040 And everyone's been working tirelessly this summer. This thing that 0:16:05.080 --> 0:16:07.600 you guys felt after the game five lost the Celtics, 0:16:07.600 --> 0:16:10.640 hadd that effect from what you observed and how these 0:16:10.680 --> 0:16:13.200 guys handled themselves in the offseason and their work ethic 0:16:13.240 --> 0:16:16.800 and drive the group was they were just upset. They 0:16:16.800 --> 0:16:19.280 were upset. They wanted more. There's more to do, and 0:16:19.640 --> 0:16:23.160 you saw that in their summer workouts. Travel schedules were 0:16:23.160 --> 0:16:26.520 based about working out, getting better, getting in the gym 0:16:26.920 --> 0:16:29.720 because they didn't like that feeling. We know. The style 0:16:29.760 --> 0:16:32.400 of play pretty much is what it is with a 0:16:32.440 --> 0:16:38.320 Brett Brown coach team, run, space, defend. Are there other tweaks? 0:16:38.360 --> 0:16:40.480 Are there's subtle tweaks underneath that that you'd like to 0:16:40.480 --> 0:16:42.800 see to try and help the core nucleus of this 0:16:42.840 --> 0:16:46.480 group get to that next step. Oh yeah, of course, 0:16:46.520 --> 0:16:48.880 the space and the pace, that's what we hang our 0:16:48.920 --> 0:16:52.240 hat on. But even you look at that and the 0:16:52.280 --> 0:16:56.440 most prolific scoring team was Houston last year and they 0:16:56.440 --> 0:16:59.800 were last in miles ran per game. We were second. 0:17:00.080 --> 0:17:03.520 So you know, just concentrated when to move, how to move, 0:17:03.920 --> 0:17:07.080 and how to be effective. That's what we're working on. 0:17:07.680 --> 0:17:10.800 Everyone talks about Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons obviously being 0:17:10.880 --> 0:17:14.280 cornerstones for this franchise. What are the next steps for 0:17:14.400 --> 0:17:16.360 both of those two players if you can break down 0:17:16.400 --> 0:17:19.320 their individual games, Yeah, now they're going to be are 0:17:19.440 --> 0:17:22.920 close to it already global superstars. Joel is going to 0:17:23.000 --> 0:17:25.880 continue to expand his range and just be more accurate 0:17:25.920 --> 0:17:28.560 from three, which he's been working on. We know what 0:17:28.600 --> 0:17:30.400 he can do in a low post. He's so dominant. 0:17:31.040 --> 0:17:34.320 Ben's going to improve his free throws, you know, around 0:17:34.320 --> 0:17:37.720 the rim, and what he's doing this play creation is playmaking, 0:17:37.840 --> 0:17:40.320 and then defensively, they're both as solid as they come. 0:17:40.960 --> 0:17:43.520 With Joel, it seems like a buzzword this offseason that 0:17:43.520 --> 0:17:47.240 people have used as bullyball. How would you define Joel 0:17:47.400 --> 0:17:50.520 playing bullyball? Can you give examples of games where he 0:17:50.680 --> 0:17:54.360 had success doing that. Yeah, he's just so physical. These 0:17:54.400 --> 0:17:58.680 just so dominant around the paint. That's where he he's unstoppable. 0:17:58.760 --> 0:18:01.000 This summer, I was tasked with trying to find guys 0:18:01.040 --> 0:18:06.160 to meet his physicality. It was impossible. I'm getting seven 0:18:06.200 --> 0:18:09.080 to two hundred and eighty pound guys. They couldn't move. 0:18:09.160 --> 0:18:14.480 I'm getting long, athletic, you know, seven one springboards, they 0:18:14.560 --> 0:18:17.520 couldn't bank. So it's just he's just a matchup nightmare 0:18:17.560 --> 0:18:21.639 for any basketball player to guard. Ben seems to have 0:18:21.760 --> 0:18:26.240 a really good way. I think, no nonsense demeanor about him. 0:18:26.480 --> 0:18:29.639 For the time you've spent around the game, is it 0:18:29.680 --> 0:18:32.280 common to come by guys that young who have that 0:18:32.720 --> 0:18:35.960 determined and focus of a mindset. Yeah, it's very uncommon 0:18:36.000 --> 0:18:39.800 to come around and be around players so young with 0:18:39.920 --> 0:18:42.360 that kind of mindset. There's just no nonsense. I want 0:18:42.359 --> 0:18:44.320 to win. I'm gonna through it. It takes to win. 0:18:46.400 --> 0:18:49.200 But that tip on their shoulder is what propels them 0:18:49.240 --> 0:18:50.920 to be great. They want to be great, and they 0:18:50.960 --> 0:18:52.600 know to be great they have to do it together. 0:18:53.640 --> 0:18:55.760 So that point that you just made the doing it together. 0:18:56.000 --> 0:18:59.280 How does a team, an organization nurture and foster the 0:18:59.359 --> 0:19:02.800 relationships that you would see something like the Golden States 0:19:02.840 --> 0:19:06.600 superstars have what obviously has been built in Houston, teams 0:19:06.640 --> 0:19:09.240 like Boston have. How do you try and grow to 0:19:09.520 --> 0:19:13.919 potential pre eminent talents winning winning cures or als? And 0:19:13.960 --> 0:19:17.920 I think last year in Boston, losing will propel us 0:19:18.000 --> 0:19:22.600 because they want to win. That's their only mindset is winning. 0:19:22.640 --> 0:19:25.720 That's all they're about. So they understand they can't do 0:19:25.760 --> 0:19:28.720 it individually and they're going to need help to get 0:19:28.760 --> 0:19:31.520 to the you know, the ultimate goal to winning championships, 0:19:31.560 --> 0:19:34.240 so that that really helps winning. That's that's all about winning. 0:19:34.240 --> 0:19:37.120 If you don't win, then you get some fraction, then 0:19:37.160 --> 0:19:39.920 you potentially add someone like another number one pick in 0:19:40.000 --> 0:19:42.639 Marquelle Faults into the mix. What do you think in 0:19:42.680 --> 0:19:45.800 your mind for you would constitute a successful season for 0:19:46.040 --> 0:19:48.760 Marquelle this year? Yeah, Marquelle, but I've seen so far 0:19:48.760 --> 0:19:54.200 it's very very encouraging. He's working tirelessly. Also, we talk 0:19:54.240 --> 0:19:57.080 about adding another piece from free agency or trade, but 0:19:57.160 --> 0:20:00.920 we may have another young talented superstar house with him, 0:20:01.200 --> 0:20:03.639 Dario Cove. They all worked hard, so we have to 0:20:04.160 --> 0:20:07.560 definitely look at that. But successful season for him? Is 0:20:07.560 --> 0:20:10.400 this being the number one pick, you know, coming out 0:20:10.400 --> 0:20:13.920 there playing, being confident in his ability, which he has 0:20:13.960 --> 0:20:16.399 been we've seen all summer, and just going from there. 0:20:16.680 --> 0:20:18.760 What are some of his skills that you feel are 0:20:19.080 --> 0:20:21.879 most ready at this point to translate to an NBA floor. 0:20:22.720 --> 0:20:26.240 You know, his ball handling skills, his passing skills, his 0:20:26.400 --> 0:20:30.560 profile to play defense at six six. If he does 0:20:30.560 --> 0:20:33.760 those things, well, he'll be fine. We hear a lot 0:20:33.840 --> 0:20:36.919 the word collaboration, and that was something that ownership sought 0:20:36.960 --> 0:20:40.119 in its general manager candidate, and as you said earlier, 0:20:40.160 --> 0:20:43.000 that's something that you're a very big believer in. Can 0:20:43.040 --> 0:20:45.639 we take a hypothetical scenario. Let's say we have player 0:20:45.920 --> 0:20:47.879 X and you have this group, this team that you 0:20:47.920 --> 0:20:50.959 guys have been working with in the offseason, and Alex Rucker, 0:20:51.400 --> 0:20:54.720 Mark Eversley, Ned Cohen, Player X comes along that you 0:20:54.760 --> 0:20:56.560 guys have to make a decision on how does the 0:20:56.600 --> 0:20:59.359 communication and the collaboration work. What are the different checks 0:20:59.359 --> 0:21:02.040 and balances things that you guys discuss. Yeah, so of 0:21:02.040 --> 0:21:04.880 course we discuss on the court. How do they look 0:21:04.920 --> 0:21:06.600 on the court. We look at the analytics and the 0:21:06.680 --> 0:21:09.240 data to see how they would fit on the court 0:21:09.280 --> 0:21:12.880 with our group. Next we go to Intel about off 0:21:12.880 --> 0:21:16.760 the court. Okay, is this guy a person? We feel 0:21:16.840 --> 0:21:20.719 like our environment and culture can help them grow. Intel 0:21:20.800 --> 0:21:22.879 may not be as positive as some other guys, but 0:21:22.960 --> 0:21:26.240 can they come to our environment and see our no 0:21:26.240 --> 0:21:30.320 nonsense style of play coach and what we have, the 0:21:30.359 --> 0:21:33.159 relationship he has with his players and can he fit in? 0:21:33.560 --> 0:21:36.240 And then last of course, goes to salary like what's 0:21:36.280 --> 0:21:39.959