In the parlor. It's a basketball ops. He's a new school Castila right there. I thought that comment from Josh Harris was great, one of the signature sound bites last week's press conference introducing the old school chevy Elk Brand as the fifteenth general manager in seventy six Ers history. Certainly, the thirty nine year old descent has been a ridiculously rapid one when you think about it. Listened two years ago.
After all, Brand was still a seventy sixer himself beginning what would end up being the final training camp of his career. But as a seventeen year run in the NBA was wind again, Brand started becoming more and more interested in and in tune with the front office work, and when he was given a shot to interview with ownership about the GM opening earlier this month, he knew he had to step up faster than even I thought.
But I was prepared and unprepared. Now now it'll be up to the two time All Star keep the Sixers moving along an auspicious path and towards the organization's desired destination. The Gold is the Brands Championship to these fans in Philadelphia, I'm committed to doing everything in my power and lead the team to that goal. Sit in with the recently minted new general manager of your Philadelphia seventy Sixers, Elton Brand,
coming up on this edition of the broadcast. What's up everyone, Great to be talking with you on miss the first full week of preseason action for the seventy Sixers. Yes, training camp underway at the training complex in Campden, New Jersey. Coming up on Tuesday, we're gonna have the Blue and White Scrimmage presented by Independence Blue Cross at the Polestero. Hope you're able to get some tickets to that. And then later on this week on Friday, Sixers Melbourne United
at the Center preseason game number one. Amazing that we are off and running. Brian Seltzer, welcoming you back to the podcast. Thank you for giving it a listen. We are going to speak with Elton Brand on this episode of the pod. And here's some other sound from people involved with Elton's career, his life the seventy sixers organization on what it means for him to have this new premier position in the seventy Sixers front office as general manager.
But before we get to that, let us remind you that to subscribe to the podcast, you can do so in a couple different places Apple Podcasts, Google Play, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, tune in. Just type in Sixers Podcast Network and that
will take you to our feed. Who knew that less than two years ago when the seventy Sixers offered Elton Brand the chance to stay involved with the organization shortly after his retirement with the position of player development consultant, that that would ultimately lead the way for Brand to become the face of the Sixers front office now as
general manager. Before our interview with Elton Brand, let's go through a couple of soundbites surrounding Brand's appointment to the Sixers GM post a little bit more first from Sixers managing partner Josh Harris on what made Brand, in his mind, the perfect choice for a modern day general manager in the eyes of the Sixers ownership group. I think ultimately that you know, Elton was the best individual for the
job across the board. There were many factors in it, but you know, everyone's aware of Elton's credentials as a player and how many years he spent in the NBA. But what we learned through the process of interviewing was that he had a great vision for how we could win a championship. He was a great leader. He was extremely well thought of internally and understood our culture and what we were trying to do. So all of those
things were important. You start with integrity and with integrity, and if that's not you know, you know number one, then you know you don't do it. Obviously you don't get you don't always get it right. But yeah, I think that all of that stuff was important and he was a right guy for the job. Going back to Brand's announcement is GM, which is where Harris spoke last Thursday,
the support Elton was obvious. I mean, it was really amazing to just see how many people packed the mezzanine section of the Sixers facility, which was where the press conference was held. You had players, you had coaches, you had training staff, scouts, support staff also from the Sixers business building as well, so there was no doubt unanimous
supports rallied behind Elton Brand. So let's hear from some of the voices who were in the crowd when Brand was rolled out as GM, beginning with Brett Brown, with whom Brand is going to have a very unique and important partnership. Brown speaking about some of his observations related to Brand going back to this past summer, and also an anecdote about Brand getting the backing of several of his colleagues Alex Rucker and Had Cohen and Mark Eversley,
who were also bidding for the Sixers GM gig. The group, although they were all interviewing for the same position, are the ones that are like putting the hand up for Elton. You know, there was a incredible this thing I saw of friendship, collaboration, recognition of roles, understanding of sort of where we were at. And Elton amongst his peas you know, was one of the people that they were cheer leading.
Foreign for me, just watching the group, watching Alton Brand in particular, and knowing the history that Elton has in the Late League and with the G League team, I felt confident, you know, like he's gonna be a GM. It was just a matter of when and who, and I'm thrilled it was with us. Seated pretty close to the front row of the seating area at the press conference for Alton Brand was David Fok And if you're not familiar with him, he is one of the true
powerbrokers in the NBA. Big time agent Elton Brand one of his prominent clients in the late nineteen nineties early two thousands. It's the only representative Brand has ever had and David Fok was at the press conference for Elton and shared some comments about his relationship with Brand. I think Elton was one of the smattest players I've had it, that oportunity workflow, it I've worked for hundreds. I think Elton has spent a great deal of time in business ventures,
both in and movies, music and venture capital. He was very intrigued by the business side, and I think just as a very natural evolution for him. Interview with Elton in a second, I promise, but just real quickly a couple more sound bites from some players who have perspective on the type of person Elton Brand is. This was Joe Ellenbid. As soon as I heard the news, I just thought about two years ago. I remember dunking on them, and we actually talked about it when he got the job.
When I texted him, I just remember dunking on him really bad, and I was like, that's that's crazy. And I was two years ago. In two years ago you were still playing with us and h he's a GM. That's much respect and I was happy for amazing crazy,
but that's also the reality. So cool. And lastly, why don't we play this cut from new seventy six er Mike Mascalo, the Bucknell product, before coming to the seventy six ers this offseason, had only ever played in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks, and during his early time there he overlapped with brand. He was a great teammate. He taught me a lot. We would play pick up throughout the year, which I wasn't getting a lot of minutes, just to stay in shape and everything. And I remember
one time too, I'll never forget. It was my first full year with the Hawks, and I only played about half the games that regular season, and when I came back out during halftime to shoot, I was out just like shooting, you know, because that's like what you knew,
just kind of get warmed up whatever. But but I hadn't played all game, and I probably hadn't played a few games before that too, so he I remember him being like, NA, just rebound, like pass the ball to your teammates, And I thought that was really cool because it's like you can still help your team by just like whatever the work work and you're rebounding because I'm passing in. But it was just it was so selfless and that was something I'll never forget, clearly Brand leaving
a very positive and impactful impression on Mike Muscala. All right, let's get to it. Recorded on media Day last week, here's our sit down with Elton Brand. Elton, first of all, congratulations, this has got to be a pretty exciting time for you. Thanks Bria. So we're gonna talk about the team, your vision,
your thoughts on how things are. But I really wanted to begin by talking about you because my personal opinion, I thought the way you seemed up on the days the press conference stage, ADDIE's comfortable, humorous at times, Who are you and had a dad demeanor and your personality come together because to me, that's one of the first things that jumps off the page. I'm very confident myself, but at the same time, I'm humble, like I know
that I'm not alone in this. It takes a great staff, great people, and I feel we have that we have some of the tops in their verticals around the league. So just knowing I have someone to lean on, someone to talk to, to help grow this organization. Coach Brett Brown, being with him, you know, playing with him, being around him for these years, that's just what we are. We're family. So I know that's where I get my comfort from.
I know that we're together and we're unified. I'm trying to think back, at least throughout your professional career and your college career in basketball, that this high character reputation has always followed you someone of integrity, honesty. What you see is what you get if you think back in your life. Has it always been that way? Was there ever a point when Elton Brand ever made trouble or cause a ruckets or anything like? Absolutely? Absolutely, you know,
just you grow up, you mature. There was sometimes that I've passed that threshold and said, look, I'm gonna try to be honest, always live with integrity, even if people don't like it or may not help propel me in a way, I still need to be honest for myself and and my mom. She helped instill that to me. What example did she said? How did she set that type of example? So a few times she was going to get the switch and I said, Mom, no, no, no, she's just said this. And always be honest with people.
That would be a great trick to have, no matter what the situation, because you won't have to think about it, you won't have to remember any lives. Just be honest and be thoughtful and be fair. I know your mom, Daisy, she's been gone for about fifteen years now, But what would you think she would say of all this, how things have come together and especially in later this recent promotion that you received. Yeah, no, my mom is you know,
smiling down and know she's so proud. You know, just give it all, stay focused and work hard, and you know, don't forget the morrows and the work I think that she helped in still with me, but I know she's happy and listening to managing partner Josh Harris talk about the selection process us and the package that you offered and the choice of you as general manager. Leadership was a word that was used a lot in your introductory press conference. How do you like to lead? What does
leadership mean to you? You know, I like to lead. I like to lead in kind of a collaborative way. You know, at the end of the day, I make the call it's going to be me making a call, but everyone has input. I will take the input from analytics to relationships to players. But at the end of the day, I know that it's important to have great people around you, which I do have. I also like to delegate and elevate, like, listen, you can do this. You can do this. Know your role, you can do
it and be strong at it. When you knew that there was a chance for you to go for this position, you said in the press conference, you stepped up right away as being that type of assertive person. Is that always something that's that's come naturally too? In one particular about this opportunity made you feel like it was something you couldn't pass up pursuing aggressively. Yeah, No, I felt I had to step up. There was two sides because I was also taking a risk. I could be in
player development longer. I can be the GM of the Blue Coats. I could be VP of basketball operations for the Sixers and maybe have a five six year run and that level. On that level, hopefully someone else come in and they'll keep me around. But for this group, the group that we have here currently that got us to this spot, I just felt like, Hey, if I have an opportunity to keep this core group together, and I'm talking about the core group off the court, I need to step up and just go for it. And
that's what I did. Can you take us inside the interview room a bit? I mean, what was that? Like? I gotta imagine there were a lot of really accomplished people that you were in front of, and you probably only hit a certain amount of time to make an impressions. So what was that? Like? You know, the preparation was important. You know, I really prepared, looked that vision, looked a sample questions, talked to various GMS and agents and even owners. I called a few owners to say, hey, what are
you looking for in a GM? Just so I was prepared if I did get the job, but also for the interview in the room. It started off Josh and myself first, then David Blitzer and myself first, and then I knew it got real when I was meeting with Scott O'Neil, Josh and David Blitzer together and the questioning changed, like it went from that vision and our player personnel to more, well, if you get the job, how would
you handle this situation? And things of that nature. So that's when I said, Okay, I really do have a chance. Did you leave the interview feeling good? Yeah, I left the interview feeling good. I was confident. I wasn't sure I was going to get the job, but I know I put my best foot forward. Have you studied leadership over the course of your life. Who are some of the people that you have paid attention to some of your leadership influences. You know, of course the ex President Obama.
You know the way he communicated that that was a great way to to, you know, lead, David Falk mentor mind, he's been great in the business of basketball, you know, his leadership, his skills to lead. And then I said, Brett Brown, he's a great leader. He's a great leader. People want to work for him, people want to give their best for him, and they exude that. You know, it's the environment that makes that happen. Let's discuss Brett
a little bit more. He did look like a proud mentor figure, father figure off on the side during your press conference. You just really seem to be naturally and genuinely beaming. How does a partnership between the two of you make this whole organization and operation better. Yeah, GM and a coach, they always have a partnership. If you want to win, you can't have one without the other
and be successful. So we are totally aligned. We're unified, and just having him in my corner really means a lot to me because it's not going to go anywhere if we're button heads and having discussions about who fits, two doesn't fit, So us being a line just helps helps everything just go a lot smoothly. Do you have an anecdote or a story of how he's advocated for you or supported you at any point during your association with the team the last couple of years since you return,
So I'll give an anecdote about just recently. You know, when I was high into discussions and it could happen for me. He came right to me and said, look, you can do this. You will be great at it. You might make some mistakes at the beginning, but you own it and you grow into it. But you can do this and I would love to have you. And that meant a lot to me. This is before I even you know, it was finalized that I would get
the job. Let's talk about this year's team. What do you see, we have our core, we have our young core their first year playing in the playoffs. They're going to develop and grow our accomplished vets of course, Ben and Joe, well that's what I'm talking about, and our accomplished vets will add to that mode. They're hungry. We did not like the way we ended that season, so I'm gonna I'm excited to see a lot of growth.
And everyone's been working tirelessly this summer. This thing that you guys felt after the game five lost the Celtics, hadd that effect from what you observed and how these guys handled themselves in the offseason and their work ethic and drive the group was they were just upset. They were upset. They wanted more. There's more to do, and you saw that in their summer workouts. Travel schedules were based about working out, getting better, getting in the gym
because they didn't like that feeling. We know. The style of play pretty much is what it is with a Brett Brown coach team, run, space, defend. Are there other tweaks? Are there's subtle tweaks underneath that that you'd like to see to try and help the core nucleus of this group get to that next step. Oh yeah, of course, the space and the pace, that's what we hang our hat on. But even you look at that and the most prolific scoring team was Houston last year and they
were last in miles ran per game. We were second. So you know, just concentrated when to move, how to move, and how to be effective. That's what we're working on. Everyone talks about Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons obviously being cornerstones for this franchise. What are the next steps for both of those two players if you can break down their individual games, Yeah, now they're going to be are
close to it already global superstars. Joel is going to continue to expand his range and just be more accurate from three, which he's been working on. We know what he can do in a low post. He's so dominant. Ben's going to improve his free throws, you know, around the rim, and what he's doing this play creation is playmaking, and then defensively, they're both as solid as they come. With Joel, it seems like a buzzword this offseason that people have used as bullyball. How would you define Joel
playing bullyball? Can you give examples of games where he had success doing that. Yeah, he's just so physical. These just so dominant around the paint. That's where he he's unstoppable. This summer, I was tasked with trying to find guys to meet his physicality. It was impossible. I'm getting seven to two hundred and eighty pound guys. They couldn't move. I'm getting long, athletic, you know, seven one springboards, they couldn't bank. So it's just he's just a matchup nightmare
for any basketball player to guard. Ben seems to have a really good way. I think, no nonsense demeanor about him. For the time you've spent around the game, is it common to come by guys that young who have that determined and focus of a mindset. Yeah, it's very uncommon to come around and be around players so young with that kind of mindset. There's just no nonsense. I want to win. I'm gonna through it. It takes to win. But that tip on their shoulder is what propels them
to be great. They want to be great, and they know to be great they have to do it together. So that point that you just made the doing it together. How does a team, an organization nurture and foster the relationships that you would see something like the Golden States superstars have what obviously has been built in Houston, teams like Boston have. How do you try and grow to potential pre eminent talents winning winning cures or als? And I think last year in Boston, losing will propel us
because they want to win. That's their only mindset is winning. That's all they're about. So they understand they can't do it individually and they're going to need help to get to the you know, the ultimate goal to winning championships, so that that really helps winning. That's that's all about winning. If you don't win, then you get some fraction, then you potentially add someone like another number one pick in
Marquelle Faults into the mix. What do you think in your mind for you would constitute a successful season for Marquelle this year? Yeah, Marquelle, but I've seen so far it's very very encouraging. He's working tirelessly. Also, we talk about adding another piece from free agency or trade, but we may have another young talented superstar house with him, Dario Cove. They all worked hard, so we have to
definitely look at that. But successful season for him? Is this being the number one pick, you know, coming out there playing, being confident in his ability, which he has been we've seen all summer, and just going from there. What are some of his skills that you feel are most ready at this point to translate to an NBA floor. You know, his ball handling skills, his passing skills, his profile to play defense at six six. If he does
those things, well, he'll be fine. We hear a lot the word collaboration, and that was something that ownership sought in its general manager candidate, and as you said earlier, that's something that you're a very big believer in. Can
we take a hypothetical scenario. Let's say we have player X and you have this group, this team that you guys have been working with in the offseason, and Alex Rucker, Mark Eversley, Ned Cohen, Player X comes along that you guys have to make a decision on how does the communication and the collaboration work. What are the different checks and balances things that you guys discuss. Yeah, so of course we discuss on the court. How do they look
on the court. We look at the analytics and the data to see how they would fit on the court with our group. Next we go to Intel about off the court. Okay, is this guy a person? We feel like our environment and culture can help them grow. Intel may not be as positive as some other guys, but can they come to our environment and see our no nonsense style of play coach and what we have, the relationship he has with his players and can he fit in?
And then last of course, goes to salary like what's this going to cost us versus our cap, versus signing other players versus signing our own players and what that would look like. Brett Brown was one the last year set the expectation the playoffs for this team. Do you set tangible expectations for this group? Do you have anything in particular in mind that you would specifically like to
see this year? Yeah, I'd just like to see us build off last year, you know, build In my opinion, we're still a work in progress, but just keep building, keep growing. In the immediate future that's the goal, But the long term future is to get the championship. So this is it's more than a development year to me, but the guys are still developing. It was definitely an intriguing offseason. Four The Eastern Conference as a whole, how would you sum up the landscape now in the East.
Of course, with Kawhi Leonard going to Toronto, they've improved. Boston, who we lost to in you know, Game five, they've they're getting too basically all stars back. So you know Milwaukee coach Budenhauser, he's there now, which I've played for. He's a talented coach. So yeah, the East has has gotten stronger, for sure. We lost Lebron so now it's more wide open for sure. Before we get to the regular season, you guys were taking a week and a
half long trip to China. What do you hope the team takes away from that opportunity to play in China? Hopefully we get to bond. You know, it's a long trip, long ride on the airplane, buses, scheduling, just come together, bond, make that bond stronger and you know, get better. We still have games out there. We're playing Dallas, so we can grow from there. And I'm now thinking about this. In your position, you're gonna have a chance to effect the way a player comes in here, enjoy his experience
and then leaves. What would you like someone to take away from their experience playing for the Philadelphia seventy six Ers. Yeah, playing for the six Ers, I want players to go to other teams or you retire, just saying they really took care of us on and off the court, with our athlete care, with our relationships, being honest, upfront, leading with integrity, just having a great, great experience when they
come to Philadelphia, period, family, whatever it is. We want to make sure they're all taking care of them, making people feel good. That is so much at the essence of what Elton Brand has been about in his entire basketball life, and without question, now he's going to have an opportunity to have more of an influence in that respect than ever as the seventy six ers new general manager. I want to thank Elton Brand for taking the time
to sit down on media day last week. Hope you enjoyed the chat, and as always, thank you for listening. Check your feed for a new podcast either later this week or at the start of next week, as we go deeper inside training camp coverage for the team and also preview what lies on the very immediate horizon for these Sixers, the Pacific horizon, that is, as the Sixers get set for their anticipated trip to China for the NBA China Games ridiculously, that is coming up next week.
All right, talk to you next time. Take care,