The Sixers are bringing up each player one-by-one for podium-style press conferences. I’ll update with notes as this thing goes along.

First up:

Jerryd Bayless

  • Most of the younger guys did a good job, everybody saw growth. Program has a bright future moving forward.
  • Will take some time off, get back to it, start working out in early July.
  • “Wasn’t easy” to come out of rotation, but when you’re around this group of guys, it does make it a bit easier. Grateful to be around this organization this year.
  • On his future: up to Bryan and his staff if he’ll be around next year. “We’ll see what happens.”

JJ Redick

  • My opening statement would be that “not much as changed since I saw you three hours ago.” (laughter)
  • Didn’t really set “goals” for himself this year based on coming to a new franchise and not really knowing how the season would play out. “I’m proud of the individual season I had.” Felt like the team exceeded expectations.
  • Told Brett Brown last summer that he wanted to come here because of the “spirit” of the group and the culture in Philadelphia. That’s been the biggest reward, “being part of that.”
  • “I don’t wanna offend” any other teams or places I’ve been, but this “my favorite year of my career.” Says playing in Philly, the buzz about sports was amazing. Feels like this was the first time he played in a real sports town.
  • Mentions cap space – Colangelo and front office will look to improve the roster. “I think there’s something to be said for continuity.” Individuals also have to grow and get better.
  • As far as coming back, “the numbers can get tricky.” Will let front office and agent talk about that.
  • Feels like he’s had “his best years after 30.”
  • Would never worry about minutes played.
  • Money is something every free agent has to weigh. “Won’t think about that for at least six weeks.” Too early to think about that.
  • Embiid and Simmons are well-equipped for the future. Thinks Ben should be ROTY.

Ersan Ilyasova

  • Knew this team was special, it was “pretty much amazing” going on a 16 game win streak and being in the second round of the playoffs.
  • Would like to stay in Philadelphia next year – “Yeah of course, we’ll see how the summer goes.”
  • Really loves playing for Brett Brown, calls him “a player’s coach.” You “knew what to expect, know what coach wants from you.”
  • Next step forward is experience. “Being in the second round, everybody gains something and sees what to expect for next year.” Says “the talent is there.”
  • First time in career his season has ended in May. Will take some time off and get back to work. Will be an “interesting” summer for free agency.

Marco Belinelli

  • “Great” experience in Philly. Really enjoyed his time with the team, organization, fans.
  • Today I think everybody is “a little bit mad about the playoffs,” but for myself it was important to be here and try to make the team better.
  • Organization is great, has a mentality to improve every day and try to win. I’ve been with great organizations like San Antonio, this organization is great, just need to be better and we’ll see next year.
  • “I would like to be here next year.” Really hopes to be here, be a better player, loves being around this team.
  • Isn’t sure if Sixers want to keep him around next year.

  • “Unbelievable” playing for Brett Brown. Felt like he was “born again” after a couple of years in Charlotte, Sacramento, and Atlanta.
  • Wants to “really work on his body” in the summer, be in shape in training camp. Thinks being with the team from the beginning would be important to understand the system, offense, defense, teammates.

Justin Anderson

  • “Unbelievable season” from a lot of different standpoints. Highs and lows, but it shaped me. These are the shaping years of your life. This city is raising me, life lessons, working, trying to be the best I can be.
  • Was disappointed in his role against the Celtics “as a competitor.” But coaches do a great job scouting and putting together a game plan. When I see athletic wings posting us or getting transition buckets, of course “it makes me angry.”
  • Didn’t really receive an explanation as to why he didn’t play more. Certain guys got going, T.J. changed the series. But “I don’t know what the thought process was,” just tried to stay ready. Last night, wanted to change the intensity, felt like he did a good job of doing that in the third quarter.
  • It’s a “close group,” felt different than other organizations. Felt like a “band of brothers” in the locker room.
  • Brought up a play that Jayson Tatum used 4-5 times in Philly, felt like could have made a difference there. Felt like he could have guarded him, but just wanted to stay ready.
  • Exit interviews are tailored for different guys. Brett Brown and Bryan Colangelo are in the room, reflect on the season each player had. Has another year on contract so can focus on his own development and growth. Brown told him that he has “everything he needs in a player,” it was about tightening things up, working on his shot.

Robert Covington

  • His playoff performance “was okay, could have given more.” Says shot wasn’t falling.
  • Focused on ball handing this summer, quickness, explosion to the rim
  • “Expectations didn’t change” for himself after signing the new contract
  • Covington says no lingering injury affected him, had the ruptured tendon in his hand, the left finger, but otherwise okay
  • Wasn’t surprised by the intensity of the playoffs, felt like the team responded to that physicality. “The more aggressive team wins.” Felt like they played well and came up short.
  • Seeing how other teams guard him, he feels like creating off the dribble will improve the offense and help teammates as well.
  • Felt like team “got away from ourselves a little bit” at times, knows what this team is capable of, doesn’t want to have this feeling early again.

Amir Johnson

  • “Unbelievable” year with the Sixers, first class organization from players, to staff, to fans. Probably one of the greatest seasons he’s experienced.
  • Brett Brown “had things in order, set in stages” for us. The “preparation” was on point. To have a coach have all of these players buy in to what he’s preaching. He definitely did a great job this year.
  • Wasn’t tough to handle smaller workload, just tried to be a veteran out there and help his teammates. Playoffs are like a chess match.
  • On his future: taking his kids to “Peppa Pig World” in London this summer, take his lady wine tasting as well
  • says team watched a ton of film during the playoffs
  • Future is bright, Simmons and Embiid “unbelievable and very skilled,” you can talk to them as much as you want, but it’s up to them to determine how great they want to be.

Richaun Holmes

  • Feel like we got better as a team, exceeded expectations getting to the second round, still disappointing because we feel like we could have done more.
  • Hard to sit on sidelines and watch in the playoffs, always a competition at center
  • Feels like he needs to be more “cerebral” defensively, pay attention to scheme, “lock in and focus”
  • Working in weight room in the summer, watching film, defensive schemes, that’s the way to “attack the game as a whole” while not getting a ton of minutes on the floor

T.J. McConnell

  • Great bunch of guys here, selfless and they want to win. That’s what made this group the most special, hard workers who got in the gym and came to play.
  • The bar is at a new level. Anything less than this year would be a disappoint next year.
  • On Fultz taking his minutes: “not up to me, I’m gonna be here working my butt off every day.” Fultz is a special player. When he plays at level he was drafted, if there’s a spot for me great, if not, I don’t know what I can do about it.
  • On his minutes expectations: “everyone’s expectations should be high, but we’ve got a lot of good guys on this team.” It’s not up to me. We’ll see what happens this summer.
  • On team option: I think they’re gonna exercise it, didn’t even know my contract had an option in it.
  • Didn’t prove anything to himself. “I knew I could play.” My confidence was high, didn’t change how I look at myself or how I play.
  • Veterans helped out in a big way, they “were on us” from the beginning. Didn’t start off great but they led us the entire way.
  • On wearing a suit: “just trying to be professional. I’d never go into an interview with sweatpants or shorts. put my wedding suit on and tried to impress Bryan and Brett. It’s the exact suit I got married in.”
  • Thinks Brad Stevens is one of the brightest minds in the NBA, “knows how to pick on mismatches and use his guys to the fullest.” Boston “has guys that can play.”

Ben Simmons

  • Gotta work this offseason, get in the gym, stay focused, get to work. It’s nothing knew. Did it all last season before the season.
  • Overall, want to work on my body, offensively working on my game and getting comfortable in that area.
  • Trying to get better taking shots this offseason, not going to change the whole shot, just working on small things, loosening the shoulder, getting shots up. “Just takes time” improving the shot, Boston did a good job of stopping me in the paint. One you start hitting, they’ll change up how they defend you. “Everything has a counter.”
  • Every series is different, T.J. brought that energy and he was able to push the ball while I posted up and went inside.
  • No idea how he’s going to structure his offseason.
  • Feels like he improved playing alongside JJ Redick, learned a lot from him during his first year.
  • Adding a jump shot would make it “tough to stop me.”
  • “Just working on the shot,” as opposed to changing a hand.
  • Season highlights were a lot of memories with teammates, “staying with it during ups and downs.” Says they learned a lot about each other as a team.
  • Turnovers: “you just learn from making mistakes.”
  • Simmons in the playoffs: wouldn’t say I struggled, just learning, they threw something at us that we didn’t see, responded too late, could have been a different series if we responded earlier.
  • Not stressing about improving the shot. “There’s never been a year where I’ve never gotten better at something.”
  • On ROTY – it would mean I have great teammates who can knock down shots.

(FYI I knocked over my phone during his video, sorry)

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot

  • Would like to come off the bench, show what I can do, play good minutes next year, fight for my spot.
  • When I was a starter, it wasn’t the only time I could show what I could do. It’s going to be different, I think I’ve been through a variety of roles. We’ll see what happens in the preseason.
  • Going to go back to France, stay there for 3 or so weeks before coming back to Philly. Plans to work in Philly throughout August. A workout summer, “not really a vacation.”
  • Wants to be more consistent with his shot and play better defense. Work on vision, handle, better with the ball, be better everywhere.
  • Knee feels good, feels like his jump his back, speed is back, everything he had before. No restrictions in offseason workout.

Dario Saric

  • wants to improve footwork, staying with smaller guards, also improving offensive game overall
  • has world championship qualifications with Croatia in July and September, plans on working in Philly when he’s not in Croatia, might have some coaches in Croatia to work with him
  • Don’t want to say “I’m a bad defender,” but need to focus on that against quicker guys. If me and Joel can guard quicker guys, move laterally, we can switch better and improve there. I’ll try to work on that but I think I was good this year in defense.
  • The national team is different, it’s hard to say no. Last month I had one month off. It’s my job to represent my country, will get some break for sure, maybe 10 days or so during the summer, have two windows and two games, maybe a longer rest between those two qualifiers.
  • Young, good core on this team, can’t tell you something you don’t already know about Simmons and Embiid.

Markelle Fultz

  • Playoffs: wanted to be out there “a lot.” But I was there with my teammates, cheering on and trying to help out any way I could.
  • Can’t wait to go through the summer and improve on all aspects of my game.
  • Feedback from exit interview: “I got a lot of positive feedback.” Keep improving on everything, getting better and stronger with the body.
  • “It’s pretty good” RE: his shoulder and developing his shot further. Grind starts now, to keep getting better.
  • I had injuries, had stuff I had to go over, I think I dealt with it fine.
  • Doesn’t matter what other people think. I’m worried about how coaches and teammates look at me and how I look at myself.
  • Ben and Joel did an unbelievable job this year, showing talent and playing as hard as they could. When I join that I think it takes us to the next step. We have bigger expectations next year. Can’t wait to put my foot on it.
  • Summer league: we haven’t discussed that yet. Goal is to improve any way possible.
  • Just looking to prove that I belong here, prove why I’m here.
  • Offseason looks like a lot of reps in the gym, conditioning, basketball reps, eating better, getting my body right.

Joel Embiid

  • Playoff experience taught him that he has a lot to work on. Taking care of the ball, etc.
  • Felt good to be healthy for most of the season, “I’m here, I did it, I’m happy about it.” Wants to play more games next year.
  • Main thing is working on his body. Coming into season, “I didn’t do anything all summer because I had to rehab so much.” Felt he was overweight and wasn’t ready at start of season. Excited to go into an offseason healthy and thinks he can put together an MVP season next year.
  • Was told to take at least two weeks off, but loves being in the gym, will watch the playoffs and try to learn more about the level where he wants to be next year. Needs to allow his body to recover since eye isn’t 100%, right shoulder and elbow were both hurting. “Have to allow my body to rest and make sure everything is good to go before I start revving it back up.”
  • Felt like it was going to be a “bit too easy, I won’t lie.” Felt like they were better than Boston, but Celtics are well coached and worked hard and made shots. “You have to give them a lot of credit.” Happy to have the experience and it should help him in the long run.
  • Playoffs starts with “toughness,” both series were really physical. Everybody has to show up, can’t have one guy not have a good game, everybody has to play together. Need to trust each other and follow the game plan.
  • Dario Saric was a beast, he was “amazing all season and will get better.”
  • Loves T.J. McConnell and the way he plays. “Hopefully he’s with us for a long time.”
  • If he’s open, will take threes, “might make some, might miss some.” Felt like he was a better three point shooter last year, felt like injuries affected that.
  • “Doesn’t care” who wins the NBA finals.
  • Needs to improve conditioning and quickness.
  • Not sure what happened to shoulder/elbow, thinks it’s something from the Miami series.
  • He weighs 280, which is where he’s been since he got to the league. Felt like he was slow at times, but that it was a conditioning thing. Feels like he can bully people because of his weight. Tried to get under 280, but isn’t sure it’s going to be good for him. Focus is more on conditioning though target weight would be around 275. Anything under that “I’d feel too skinny and not as strong.”
  • On free agents: if they need me to recruit somebody, I’ll be doing that.
  • Avoided my question about playing alongside LeBron James. “Is that tampering? I’ll answer in July.”
  • Staff did an amazing job taking care of his body, team has been monitoring everything and that was a big part of his season. Frustration was due to being competitive and wanting to be out there. Big picture felt like he made positive steps and he’s glad the minutes restrictions/back to back restrictions are done.