Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown might have a career writing proverbs.
The Sixers tactician commented on the comfort of refocusing on basketball after a four-month long hiatus, saying: “The freedom of a gymnasium is priceless…” while also quipping the return of hoops can serve as a “passport to what you remember.”
Brett Brown: “The freedom of a gymnasium is pricelesss, you take off your mask and you’ve got a basketball in your hands, you’ve got a passport to what you remember & brings you to a level of normality that none of us had.”
(I’m saving this one in the Brett Brown quotebook)
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) July 12, 2020
Not all of Brown's players feel the same way, however.
To recall, Sixers center Joel Embiid willingly spoke about his concerns regarding the potential spread of COVID-19 within the NBA bubble in Orlando. In fact, the Cameroon native said he was initially not sold on the resumption of play.
“I hated the idea … I feel like, with everything that has been going on, it’s unfortunate what’s been going on in the world,” Embiid said
Embiid also traveled to Orlando wearing a full hazmat suit, in addition to gloves and a mask.
Joel Embiid has arrived for the flight to Orlando, in full mask, suit and glove gear. pic.twitter.com/Nz7hOtc69E
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) July 9, 2020
The outspoken big man is known for his sense of humor, but he also appears genuinely concerned for player safety.
Brett Brown and the Sixers will hope those concerns subside in the next few weeks. Embiid is unquestionably one of the top players in the league, and indeed a likely X-factor in determining how far they go in Orlando.
Philly heads into the restart tied with the Indiana Pacers for the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference and two games back of the Miami Heat for the No.4 seed.
Coincidentally, the Sixers have an opportunity to gain ground from the jump. They open their eight-game stretch against the Pacers on Aug. 1.
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