Tobias Harris talks about his return to Philadelphia and looks back on the Sixers years originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Tobias Harris and Paul Reed were back in the building Wednesday morning.
Once he finished his post-shooting routine, Harris stopped along a familiar baseline in Pistons gear.
A scrum of reporters was ready to ask questions about his first game as a road player at the Wells Fargo Center since November 1, 2018.
“It’s always good to be back. … I was here a long time,” Harris said. “A lot of memories, a lot of experiences, so you just have to take it all in and get through it all.”
Harris had indeed been stationed in Philadelphia for quite a while. After acquiring Harris, Mike Scott and Boban Marjanovic before the trade deadline, the Sixers signed Harris to a five-year, $180 million contract in the summer of 2019. Amid the Sixers’ near-constant drama – demands for High-profile trade, injury problems, bitter playoffs. ends – only Harris and superstar center Joel Embiid remained with the team for the duration of that deal.
Although hit by occasional bad luck — from Kawhi Leonard’s quadruple 2019 series winner to Embiid’s accidental injuries — Harris and the Sixers were never good enough to crack the second round of the playoffs. Harris was scoreless last year in the Sixers’ close first-round loss to the Knicks.
“It’s the biggest disappointment,” he said. “High expectations for a very good group. Different coaching staffs, different teams, but overall I feel like we had enough talent to make something happen and make it happen. But sometimes that’s the nature of sport.
Ultimately, Harris never reached All-Star level in Philadelphia or produced enough against his contract. He averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 378 regular season games.
The 32-year-old prides himself on being generally solid, available and professional in his approach.
“When I was a kid, if something didn’t work, I moved on,” Harris said. “But you find a way to understand it. It was the first thing in my life that I experienced for five years.
“I think there’s tremendous growth in this area and in the ability to weather the storm, find ways to get through it somehow and really fight through it . For me, it’s honestly an experience I wouldn’t trade.
Unlike Harris, Reed was often a fan favorite during his four seasons as a Sixer.
He went from the 58th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft to every game for the Sixers last season.
“Philly always has a place in my heart,” he said.
Reed is one of several young players Harris has mentored during his years with the Sixers. Also on the list are Tyrese Maxey, Ricky Council IV and Matisse Thybulle.
“Those are the ones I’ll never forget,” Harris said. “Just seeing their growth and development, seeing Tyrese have the success that he’s had… all the guys that I’ve been able to give some type of influence to or that I’ve been able to give some type of experience to and knowledge, it was important to me.
“Seeing their success, that’s what a veterinarian is for.” I have never taken this job lightly, because I have an influence on the (up-and-coming) players in this league. I’m always happy to see this type of success.
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