Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Among tributes to Bryant, a Brown vow to compete
PHILADELPHIA » A 33-second moment of silence, a solemn bell-ringing and a show of pregame solidarity by the players during the national anthem were among the ways the 76ers Tuesday honored the memory of Philadelphia-arearaised basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed Sunday in a California helicopter crash.
As for Brett Brown, he had one more way to pay his professional respect: He would compete.
“I mean, there isn’t really a message that I am going to convey,” Brown said Tuesday before a game against the Golden State Warriors. “I am coming in to win. And I think that’s probably the greatest, in my opinion, tribute you can pay to such an amazing competitor.
“I am going to coach with that spirit. I am not going to reference it.”
The Sixers’ coach was saddened by the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Bryant and his daughter Gigi, and seven others. Monday, he’d overseen a lengthy pre-practice meeting with his players, encouraging them to share their various memories of the fourth leading scorer in NBA history. After the practice, he spoke at length, and from the heart, about what Bryant meant to him and the league. And he had reason to be particularly touched, as his son, Sam Brown, plays high school basketball in the Kobe Bryant Gymnasium at Lower Merion.
The 33-second tribute Tuesday was an acknowledgement of the No. 33 Bryant wore when he played at Lower Merion. A No. 33 was painted on the sideline, in front of the scorer’s table. During warmups, each 76er wore a jersey with either No. 24 or No. 8, including Bryant’s name on the back.
But when it was time to compete, that’s what Bryant always did best. So when it was that time, Brown had no alternative but to allow that to be his tribute.
“We had a great day yesterday and talked freely with our team,” Brown said. “Everybody spoke. I think everybody from that point on will handle this tragedy in a personal way. And I truly don’t feel it is my place any more to determine what that is for individual players.”
After both teams stood together for the national anthem, Ben Simmons took the opening tip from Joel Embiid in the backcourt and gently placed the ball on the floor to take a deliberate eight-second violation. The Warriors responded by running out the 24-second clock with their ensuing possession. Bryant had worn the numbers 8 and 24 for the Lakers.
After that, it was time to do what Bryant did with a passion: Attempt to win.
“I do know how I am going to coach,” Brown said. “And it is what I just said, and for the reasons I just said.”
••• Shortly before the game, Embiid received clearance to play from the surgeon who performed the Jan. 10 surgery on his dislocated finger. That was expected after the All-Star center had practiced fully Monday.
The Sixers were 6-3 in Embiid’s absence, which at one point carried the potential to last much longer.
“It didn’t surprise me what they showed,” Brown said. “They showed they have tremendous character. They showed a resilience. They showed a togetherness. And we were quite successful. We lost at Dallas, Indiana and Toronto, but I think, by and large, we played some good basketball and beat some good teams. And without Jo, that’s hard to do.”
••• Golden State coach Steve Kerr remembers coming off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the 2003 NBA Western Conference finals and shooting 4-for-4, all on three-pointers, to help oust the Dallas Mavericks.
“I think it was 75 years ago,” Kerr said. “But I can still remember Brett Brown there on the bench. And every time I pulled up, I could hear him saying, in that Australian-slash-Boston accent, ‘Why not?’ And it infused me with confidence.
“That’s the way Brett is. It is the way he has been through the process here. It wasn’t easy, but he always stayed positive.”
••• Josh Richardson missed his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury.
“I feel good,” Richardson said. “I am making good progress. That’s encouraging. I am trying to get back as soon as possible.”
Asked if it remains possible that he could rejoin the Sixers by the All-Star break, Richardson said, “Hopefully, before then.”
The Sixers have eight games remaining before the Feb. 16 AllStar Game.
As he did in a victory over the Lakers Saturday, Shake Milton replaced Richardson in the starting lineup, joining Embiid, Al Horford, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris. Matisse Thybulle, who had been starting in place of Embiid, was relegated to a bench role.
Zhaire Smith, who left the Lakers game early with a twisted ankle, returned to play Tuesday.
••• Kerr had many vivid memories of Bryant. One was just shortly after he had coached the Warriors to an NBA one-season record 73rd win in 2016.
“We were on the floor for a long time celebrating,” Kerr said. “Then we went into the locker room and Kobe was playing his final game on TV. And he had 20 points, then 40 … and we kept watching.”
Bryant would finish with 60 points in a victory over Utah before easing into retirement.
“He was just racking up the points,” Kerr said. “I’ll never forget it.”
••• The Sixers will visit the Atlanta Hawks Thursday night at 7:30.