Erin Grugan
@eringrugan
Sixers stuff for @libertyballers.bsky.social (SB Nation). Mostly yapping about sports in general. Opinions my own, yada yada. Photographer. Go Birds. YNWA.
Dear god that Summer League Sixers game was ugly. The only one who wasn't a complete mess, fortunately, was No. 22 pick Labaron Philon. 17 PTS (7-11 FG, 1-3 3PT), 4 AST, 2 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK
"I was getting a pedicure and Jameer was calling me. I didn't see it then I see the message that says 'call me ASAP' I was kinda scared, cause like this the start of free agency, why the VP telling me to call him ASAP?" VJ Edgecombe on learning of the Jaylen Brown trade
Sixers owner Josh Harris, president of basketball ops Mike Gansey and head coach Nick Nurse all courtside for the Sixers Summer League game this afternoon (Bob Myers is also with the contingent)
Last but not least for our first Summer League game, taking a look at Dante Maddox Jr. Another guy that deserves some attention throughout this seasonal campaign after today. 21 PTS (7-13 FG, 4-6 3PT) 4 REB, 1 STL vs. Pistons
Absolutely have to shout out Isaac Johnson (Hawaii). Didn't know much of anything about him before tonight, but I'll be watching him very closely now this Summer League. 20 PTS (6-10 FG, 4-6 3PT), 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK in 19:32 off the bench for the Sixers vs. Pistons
For the very first time, it's time for Labaron Philon Sixers highlights! Liked a lot of what we saw from the No. 22 pick. Some inconsistent shooting, but clear ability and game sense. Great handles and awareness; smart about collapsing the defense and kicking out for assists.
I knew very little about Isaac Johnson coming into this evening... and now I think he's making a genuine case for a two-way contract with the Sixers. Here's his fourth triple of the game off the bench 🔥 he's up to 20 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 3PT)
Labaron Philon looking silky smooth already. Had the defender spinning to close out Q1.
The first bucket of Sixers Summer League 2026 comes courtesy of.... No. 22 overall pick Labaron Philon, with the triple!
Jaylen Brown: "The Process is back the fuck on." "The Process been over, now the Process is back motherfucker."
Windy on ESPN talking about the connection between Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James, and how it could be a recruiting tool in the pursuit of bringing LeBron to Philly "The connection to Philly is Tyrese Maxey and the Klutch connection"
Shams Charania on ESPN "I'm told the Sixers are also trying to make a pitch to LeBron James along with the Warriors, Cavaliers and Heat. Sixers get Anfernee Simons and they're obviously trying to continue to add to this team."
Wait for Maxey's reaction to McCain's second triple... I zoomed in for y'all.
Jared McCain with back-to-back triples in his first moments in the game. Can't tell if it's OKC or just Jared McCain fans in the house tonight in Philly, but definitely a crowd pop after these...
VJ Edgecombe couldn't quite complete what would have been his third huge slam of the game already... and Tyrese Maxey gave him a thumbs down 😂
Impressed with the Sixers finding a way to get blocked three times in roughly three seconds... (then they gave up the rebound and a 3-pointer to Cleveland)
A quick look at the East for anyone that still has playoff aspirations for this Sixers squad, currently in 8th (a Play-In spot). 👀 Just 1.5 games over the Hawks in 9th and 3 over the Hornets in 10th. Those teams in their last 13 games: ATL 9-4 CHA 8-5 PHI 5-8
1. One HELL of an effort play from VJ Edgecombe to save this possession for the Sixers. 2. Awesome to see Edgecombe so concerned / apologetic toward the fan that took a bit of a kick to the face in the process.
During player intros on NBC, Kelly Oubre Jr. says he went to "YouTube University" 😂
Drew Hanlen on Tyrese Maxey "The last couple weeks I've been like 'just take a game off, you need a break, your body's fatiguing.' So that's another thing I think the Sixers will have to do to ultimately be at their best is find ways to give him breaks."
Drew Hanlen: "'Joel Embiid's out ... oh no, is he seriously hurt?' No, he's just not 100% ... he's not going to push his body to a place where he has in the past. People know all the surgeries, all the injuries. People have no idea the amount of pain that he's played through"
Drew Hanlen on Joel Embiid's mindset this season "He's bought into something this year he's never done in the past. In the past, if he was 50%, he was still playing." "This year, he's taken more of the approach of 'if I'm not healthy, I'm not playing.'" (credit Kevin O'Connor)
Trainer Drew Hanlen on Joel Embiid "People will look at him and be like 'he's out of shape, he's lazy.' You don't go from picking up a basketball the first time at 16 to being arguably the most skilled big guy of all time, in a decade, if you don't work hard." (credit Kevin O'Connor)
