Not sure how well you remember this, but last year there was a story about a Sixers team meeting that took place in San Antonio, featuring guest speaker Bruce Bowen, who played for the Gregg Popovich/Brett Brown Spurs teams of the past.

Keith Pompey wrote about it at the time, explaining that there was an awkwardness between Bowen and Joel Embiid.

Here are the relevant passages from Keith’s Inquirer story, for a quick refresher:

Brown had former San Antonio Spur Bruce Bowen address the team on Dec. 17, before they played at San Antonio. Bowen won three NBA titles with the Spurs and was an eight-time all-defensive selection while playing alongside Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

Bowen lectured the players about cherishing their roles, whatever they might be. He created an awkward environment, according to multiple league sources. The 13-year veteran singled out Embiid, yelling, “I ain’t scared of you” three times while walking toward the big man. Realizing the approach was having a negative effect, Bowen told Embiid he was only joking. However, the center was noticeably upset and went on to struggle in that night’s 123-96 loss to the Spurs. Folks in the room felt as if the speech was scripted.

Brown later apologized to the team for the entire ordeal.

Today Bowen was on Get Up, and unprompted, told his side of that story, or at least some of it.

Here’s what he had to say:

The responses to that video are varied. Some people think Bowen is an asshole and doesn’t know what’s talking about. Others think Embiid is “soft” and doesn’t respond well to criticism.

I think there’s something to be said for star players and accountability, that middle ground of discipline (but fairness) that’s difficult to achieve in the NBA. It’s not the same as Bob Huggins yanking some poor 18-year-old kid because he turned the ball over. When you bench or discipline NBA players, the agent is on the phone demanding a trade, or the superstar shuts the coach out entirely. It’s a tricky situation.

The key point is that these guys have to find ways to hold themselves accountable and keep themselves motivated. You are first and foremost accountable to yourself, based on the standard of performance that you set. That standard is determined by how much of a competitor you are, and if you really want it or not.

(All of this, honest to God, is why Tyronn Lue might not be a bad choice to coach this team. If anybody can handle a locker room with unique personalities and egos, it’s him)