The Philadelphia 76ers are an iconic NBA franchise due to their success throughout history. Even though they have not won a championship since 1983, they have remained competitive and prominent in the NBA landscape, in large part because of players like Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, and now Joel Embiid.
Philadelphia sets a high bar for its sports teams, with success spanning the Eagles in the NFL, the Phillies in the MLB, and the 76ers in the NBA. As Paul George joins Embiid and Maxey in Philly, Bill Simmons warns him about the fans' high expectations for their players.
“That Philly fan base is fu*king tough, man. It just is. They have the toughest fan base. That is the toughest place to play in the NBA,” Simmons said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “Their fans would get mad when they hear that but they know it’s true. It’s the toughest place to play out of all the teams.”
Philly has an unfortunate history with their players
While Philadelphia is passionate about their team, they sometimes go overboard with how they talk about the 76ers. There have been cases when the fans shout harsh words at the Philly players, which does not resonate with the athletes.
In recent years, both Ben Simmons and James Harden have faced this challenge. Simmons, in particular, struggled with his reluctance to shoot and ongoing injury problems that continue to affect him in Brooklyn.
Back in 2022, the Australian guard admitted that he felt that no matter what he did, he would always get harsh words from the 76ers fans.
"People in Philly just wanna have something to say about fucki*g anything, man! I post a picture of a fucki*g car or dog. I got reporters saying you should be in a fucki*g gym. Come on, man,” Ben said on The Old Man and the Three.
In Harden’s case, he did not get the same backlash as Ben, but it was likely because his feud with the organization was centered on general manager Daryl Morey .
Related: Scottie Pippen on how Michael Jordan would have reacted if he left the Bulls: "He would have probably tried to shoot more and score more"
George will be ready for the bright lights
PG has been around the league for a long time and is ready for the spotlight in Philly. He has been a superstar in the Association, so playing under the bright lights in the Eastern Conference is a familiar sight for George.
He is about to perform under pressure with the 76ers, but he has the support of All-Star teammates. While a trio of JoJo, Tyrese, and George may not make them immediate favorites, they are strong contenders if they can stay healthy and competitive come postseason.
Simmons is right to warn PG about Philly's intense fan base and its tumultuous relationship with players. However, the superstar, ready to prove his doubters wrong, is set on winning a championship in the City of Brotherly Love.
Related: Paul George says he never wanted to leave the Clippers: "I thought I played well enough for them to be like, 'You know what? He's part of our future"
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