The BroadCast | A One-On-One Interview With Tobias Harris

You know, we got the Harris last name. That's awesome. And he was reunited with the head coach he had more success under than anyone else. He did an amazing job with allowing me to expand my game and my career. So I'm always thankful, without thankful for any of us coach, thankful for him as a individual. I'm Brian Selter, and on this episode of the broadcast, Tobias Harris in his own words about the eventful few months that have now set the stage for a much anticipated season. How are you,

seventy six ers pod peeps. I hope you are good, getting ready and pumped up? For the first of two preseason games. That's right. Seventy six Ers exhibition slate starts on Tuesday night, seven thirty against the Boston Celtics from the Center in South Philadelphia, first since March eleventh, the night the season was ultimately postponed. Games gonna be on ninety seven five The Fanatic if you're listening in the Philadelphia area, also on NBC Sports Philadelphia and TNT. It's

gonna be good to see the guys back out. They're also going to be great to see, in particular Tobias Harris back out there, because in the event that you forgot last we saw Harris and the Sixers in a game scenario. It was a really scary sight. It looks like we have a serious injury. Take a look at what's happened here to Tobias Harris, who was laying down in the court for the Philadelphia seventy Sixers at then

led to an uncomfortable a few minutes. They have called for crit cool assistance of Tobias Harris, but ultimately the outcome was a relief, grateful sign that Tobias Harris is up and walking off the court under his own power. Because a moment ago he was somehow Tobias Harris returned to play after that nasty collision with Boston's Jason Tatum in Game four of the first round of the playoffs inside the bubble. That Tobias came back out on the

court didn't change the seventy six ers fate. They were, of course swept, but after leaving Orlando, there would be a lot of excitement on Harris's horizon. I'm gonna turn over now to our Lauren Rosen, who recently caught up with the Sixers veteran. Obviously, you had a lot of emotions sort of on the court and then off the court. But it seems like you're in a good place, are you. Are you a happy guy right now? Yeah? I mean yeah, A lot of it's gone on off the floor. Got

a gauge this. I wouldn't even call him summer fall. So that was a fun experience and um one I've been waiting to do. So that was awesome. And or all just being able to have a lot of time to reflect all myself and and and help myself grow and learn different areas, and obviously a lot was going on with the presidential election and just a lot of things to be able to be a person of impact. So I'm excited and I love the life that I live.

I love being who I am and waking up every day and trying to better myself each and every moment I get. So I'm happy for that. Bless Your engagement obviously went viral. You've set the bar really high for like all men moving forward. What was that process like of deciding to do something so big and how do you feel now that you've sort of surpassed this big milestone in your life. Well, I wanted the moment to be as memorable as possible for a Jasmine and uh

and myself. UM, so definitely wanted to go all out on the flowers as you saw. Uh it did go. It did definitely go borrow. If I had to do it, Yeah, I probably would only posted like one photo because it was everywhere. I am a pretty um private person, but the moment was so special and I wanted, you know, to to put it out there for people who follow me and follow my life and and um people bring positivity toward towards myself and and uh and family going forward.

Uh So, Yeah, it was a lot of planning that went into it, um No, a lot of strategic planning to making sure it was a surprise and that it was specially memorable. So it was a fun moment. Sources say that there was a harpist there, that you had all sorts of stuff going on, and I know that you made it made it sure like you made an emphasis to promote black owned businesses and black business owners when you went and did this. So why was that

so important? And can you just run us through all the things you had because the people need to know, all right everything. Yeah, So we had a harpist there who played a beautiful song once I got on a knee. We had I had an event planner. Me and her were on the phone pretty much constant for like three weeks, well a month up until it. And caterer so food. So what the idea I wanted was like a sunset dinner too after the proposal and to get jazz one

up to the to the land. It was actually I had told her it was a we were doing a photo shoot with our architectural digests, so you know, I mean yeah, So she was like okay, So there was like all these other details I had to go along with it, and I did make an emphasis to support black owned businesses, So that's down to my plan or the harpist, the photographers, the outfits, all the way down the line, and that was something that I wanted to incorporate in this because you know, when you when you

want to do something big and have something that essentially went viral, it's no better feeling to know that jon people were able to put this together, and that was a good feeling for me, and they did a phenomenal job, which I also expected, so it was it was a lot of fun. How are you going to possibly top the proposal for the wedding? I'm not getting involved in that one bit, said Jasmin. She got the wedding. I did the proposal, so you can do all the planning

for the wedding and set it up. I don't want to know issues any problem. So however, she wants a wedding, But jas was also somebody that likes doesn't like being in the center of attention, so she's also very much more low key. So if I let her handle the wedding, I think it would be half the price if I handle it, So I'm fine with that. Okay, something else exciting that happened for you. Shortly before the proposal, you

met now Vice President elect Kamala Harris. Can you take us through that experience, maybe from start to finish when you found out you were going to do that with Donovan and CJ and then what it was like to actually meet her in person. Yeah. So I got a call properly on It was like Tuesday afternoon, Hey, comments doing a a round table with She wants to do it with you Donan Mitchell and CJ McColl and we would you be interested? And I said, yeah, I would

be interested. Just give me some details. And then it was like, all right, you need to get on a plane tonight. And I was like tonight, Like that's come on, about to go work out. He also they actually ended up changing it to the next day and he was

able to get on a plane. It's kind of kind of weird because when you're dealing with the vice president, you got to go through secret secret services and whatnot, so every call is like you get a call and you get another call like however, and they don't want people tapping the line whatever. But UM, it was a it was a great experience with UM with somebody who wants to do so many great things for the country, wants to do amazing things for the African American culture.

And to be able to have that type of sit down and to be able to meet her was awesome. Like she's so down on earth. She just comes up to me and she's like, what's up, cousin, And I'm like, yeah, we are cousins. You know, we got the Harris last name. That's that's awesome. So um. It was cool though seeing when we got there to do the interview is you know, she she rolls deep. It's like thirty people deep for

one person, like thirty coming off this plane. And I was like, man like and then like you're in this. We're in this like aviation and just secure secret service here here, here, here, like always guarding every move and that was that was real interesting to see too. So it was an amazing experience, a really good sit down that happened with some some some great people you know down the Mentell CJ. McCollum, great dudes, and we had

a fun time do it. You guys roll pretty deep too when you travel there's a big group of people. You guys have your own security. What was it like to meet someone that's sort of like just far and away on a whole other level when it comes to how many people are are involved in their operation. Yeah, I mean you see a full team, and especially during a presidential election, and yeah, there's two people, Donald Trump and um Joe Biden, and you have all these resources

that go into this campaign. You you really saw what goes into I mean, she's getting over plane flying doing this interview forty five minutes straight up, gets up, it has to go to the next city, get down and do it again. Like it's a lot, but ah, what if it at the end of the day to get to win. So it's kind of like an organization, but

it's one person maneuvering around. So I thought it was a cool thing to see from behind the scenes all of the stuff that you did and the way that you spoke up and used your platform going into this election. I think it really made a difference, especially when you look at what happened here in Philadelphia where a lot of your fans and followers are. How did it feel to look back and feel like you made an impact

during such a pivotal time in history. Yeah, to be honest, in the moment, you don't realize it, but then when you see you finally so and you see how close it was, what it truly came down to, you really start to think, like, wow, every you get a true gratitude feeling of every vote counts, like wow, my vote counted, or hey, Latisia's vlog countered, counted up, Hey the NBA opening up arenas for voting places truly counted. So this

could go whichever direction. And I think we really just got a taste and found out how important it is to speak up and voice your opinion and give people that type of that type of knowledge of what we're going through, but also what we're capable of doing with our platform. And that was important that that was really a moment where I think, as you know, I'm speaking for an NBA player, but I think we all we

all kind of knew what we're capable of doing. But I also meet Percy want to give true thanks to the people on the ground that we're really getting the most work done in the communities, in the cities, getting people to vote, signing people of registering them. You know, those are the people that truly deserve all the praise. It may not have the followings, but they were the ones that were really on the ground making it happen, and those are the want that I appreciate the most.

Before we continue this terrific conversation between Lauren Rosen and Tobias Harris, just a quick seventy six ers Podcast Network PSA. If you like what you're hearing and are not yet a subscriber or follower of ours, please consider changing that. All you gotta do is search seventy six ers Podcast Network wherever you get your podcasts, and if you're listening

on Apple, we would love a rating. It helps us get noticed and discovered by more people, so please do hit us with a few ares if you are so Incline also got to give a shout out to new seventy six er and like Tobias Harris, a strong Island native, Danny Green and our guy Harrison Sanford have a tremendous podcast themselves. It's called Inside the green Room. They started their new season last week. Look for Inside the green Room wherever you get your podcasts by searching Inside the

green Room. Now back to Lauren and Tobias, it feels like you really developed a lane or a brand. Or a platform online at least from my perspective, and it really does revolve around speaking out for what you believe in and being an advocate for others that don't have as big of a platform as you do. Are you proud with the way that sort of your off court brand has started to take shape? And do you agree with me that it's that it's changed a little bit this year? Yeah, I agree with you. I think it

ash change. People will understand that you're not just coming to just a basketball player's page. It's like, it's deeper than that. I'm a really good basketball player, but I'm also a person who is very diverse in different areas of life, and I look to continue to expand that brand. I think you know when I and I had this conversation with Matiss, Like when I first came to the league, I was very politically correct because I didn't want to

step on anyone's toes. And now I've gotten to the point where, no, like you don't you don't have to be like that. You can be yourself. You can speak up for what you believe in, and if some people don't like it, it is what it is. Not everyone's going to agree with you. So even sometimes I have to take myself away from social media because there can be a lot of toxic energy on there with a

lot of people who have direct access to you. But you have to That's why it's so important to really work on yourself and know who you are and the people you impact and everyone you're around. And that's truly what I try to do on a daily basis, and I think that's only shape the person that I am to be better every day. Your friendship with Matisse and last time I asked you how he was doing as a rookie. I think you were joking, but you gave

him like a C plus B minus type range. When you look back at the whatever six to eight months that followed going to the Bubble, him creating the blog, him speaking out along with you about about really important issues, did he crack that a range for the final Like, how did he do by the end of his rookie season? Yeah, he cracked a range? Sure, he uh he did. I thought he did an amazing job. He's he's such a

creative person. So sometimes we just need to watch watch him a little bit because we need him to also play basketball. We don't want him to get you know, a plus, Rangie might just leave us, so we want him to be say, but now I think he's of those guys that he'll have a long career and when he's done, he'll be moving on to another adventure where he's comfortable and feels great at at doing whatever he wants to do. No one will ever take away from

from what you and Bobon have. But how has your friendship with Mattis evolved and are you excited to continue on your journey with him? Yeah, I mean, you know, Matissa is uh obviously like when he comes in, he's a rookie and I'm gonna make sure that he's on the right path of having the longest career he can have. Um, you don't never take bobon spot. Only Bobon could call me at seven forty five in the morning and be energetic, and I have to say, Bobon, what are you doing

at seven forty five? But Mattie is a very well rounded person who is into a lot of different things. You know, he's really interesting financial literacy and those are things that I'm interested into that we can we talk about different investments and things along that line. So you know, it's it's one of those things where your teammates but

friends for life, you know. So I and I look at that build a lot of my teammates that I've played with, and that's important when you know on this NBA journey, different cities, playing competing to to really enjoy the whole, the whole thing. When he did the media circuit that you did today a couple of days ago, he said that he's all basketball right now. The blogs is going to have to wait. He's super locked in. So you've been getting through him, Yeah, he's he's an

emails with who back to basketball stuff? Um? The last thing I wanted to ask, um, when you think about reuniting with Doc and continuing your efforts for social justice, where does he fit into all that? Because he's been an icon in this base for a long time. Are you excited for that off court potential that you guys can continue to push that messaging together. Yeah? I am.

I think you know, even during election, there was a lot of things he was doing that I was following up on and seeing and I thought it was important. So I think being here in Philadelphia, will Will both be trying to do things to make an impact and further help bring unity together. And I'm excited for that because that's what it's about. It's being you know, using your time, using your space to impact and help and

bring awareness. So he is an icon in that area and I appreciate that in a in a coach, your relationship with him, I know, even before he was in the conversation to be your coach again, you talked about having a good relationship with him when you left LA.

How did you guys day in touch? And then when there was a coaching vacancy, what were your conversations like, Yeah, well we talked from time to time throughout the year, you know, like we were playing he saw something, he would always just text me, Hey, think about doing this. So there was always a that type of still coached the player relationship that that we've always had from being able to be coached by him for a year and

a half in LA. It's just the type of person he is and the type of coach that he is. He cares about his players no matter what, no matter what team you're on. So I mean, obviously he's not gonna tell me what I should be doing when we play them, but anytime we we'll go to play in La or he'll come here, we'll talk for a little bit. He's just that type of individual. So we have great relationship.

When the job was well, when he got release from the Clippers, I just text him make sure he was good, and you know, he texts me back saying he's all he's all fine. So it was like that. I didn't really want to get too much in what's going on, but you know, I text him. I text him back and I said, I know a place that'd be a good fit for you. You know, you know, we got the phone, spoke a little bit. But I was excited when he got the job. I thought it was amazing

and I'm excited for this year. What does it mean to you to have someone in your life that, even before he was your coach again, he cares enough to reach out to you. You clearly care enough to reach out to him when things change in his life. What's it like to have someone that's been a mentor for you and that's been in your ear now be able

to go on the rest of this journey with you. Yeah, it's just it just goes to show, like the type of the type of people you're around the type of relationship you have the coach from here when you go out there and you play for him, you know he he uh did an amazing job with allowing me to expand my game and my career. So I'm always thankful for them, thankful for him as a coach, thankful for

him as say individual. So you know, even when he texted on the fall, it makes you know, like it's not just about basketball, like it's about life in general, because you know, for a lot of people that I I was, even myself, it was a real scary moment of uncertainty

and not knowing what can happen. So to know that it was impacted somebody and you have that type of relationship and dialogue with them and a trust and care with them is important when you think about the way that the season ended though, and now to have this opportunity to try again. Really it was a condensed offseason, right, like that wasn't that long ago? How does how does the end of last season and now inform the way

that you're looking into this season? So so really, I mean it was it wasn't a great way to I mean, it was terrible in this season. Um, and I think for all of us, it's we have a lot to prove. It's, uh, you know, we we have to get our respect back. It's it's adept redemption season for us as a whole. I think um and U. For us, it's it's a you know, it's a it's a humble pie type deal

where we needed to be humbled. We are humbled, and we got to really fight for everything coming forward and we get back to where we want to be, uh well, really to get to where we want to be, and that's to win a championship. So we're starting basically over right now, new staff and everything goes. We have we got to be pretty much stellar to get things done.

After pulling off a proposal that would be hard for just about anyone you would think to replicate to meeting with Kamala Harris and getting ready for a new season under Doc Rivers. Great to hear Tobias Harris in a very good place as he in the seventy six ers get ready for preseason action. The debut on the exhibition slate is Tuesday, December fifteenth against the Boston Celtics at the Center. The second and final preseason game is Friday

on the Road against the Indiana Pacers. Thanks to Lauren Rosen and Tobias Harris for the interview. Thanks to you for listening. I'm Brian Seltzer. Talked to next time here on the broadcast