Nick Nurse isn’t hiding what he sees in Philadelphia’s new backcourt mix.
As the 76ers continue to buzz around the LeBron James rumors during NBA free agency, Nurse has been talking up a different part of the roster: the pairing of Anfernee Simons and Labaron Philon Jr. The two guards have already started to draw attention in NBA Summer League, and Nurse made it clear Sunday that he believes both can matter for what comes next in Philadelphia.
“I think Anfernee and Philon are both going to be important,” Nurse said via The Athletic's 76ers insider Tony Jones. “I think both of them are handlers that can play some pick-and-roll and score the ball. Both of them are super athletes.”
That’s the selling point for Nurse: speed, burst and shot creation. He didn’t dress it up.
“[We're] faster and a lot more athletic,” Nurse said. “Of course, there are some other issues.”
He expanded on that point with Jones, saying the 76ers “might be a touch small at times, but I certainly take the speed and athleticism.” In other words, Nurse sees a backcourt that can push the pace and pressure defenses, even if the size isn’t always ideal. From there, it’s on him and his staff to sort out the right combinations.
Philadelphia has been one of the more aggressive teams of the offseason, and the roster keeps getting heavier with talent. Jaylen Brown came over from the Boston Celtics in the blockbuster June trade, and he now joins Philon and Tyrese Maxey as part of the mix.
Still, the James chatter lingers. If he ends up in Philadelphia, Sixers fans are already imagining what that could mean for Simons and Philon - especially with James potentially adding another layer of teaching and experience to the backcourt.
In Other News...
Sixers Just Made A Frontcourt Move Fans Have Been Waiting On
The 76ers added another frontcourt body on July 6, signing center Ariel Hukporti, according to a team press release. The 7-foot big man arrives after spending last season with the Knicks, where he got into 54 games and was part of their playoff rotation during a run that carried into the postseason.
For Philadelphia, the move is another look at a young center who has already logged meaningful NBA minutes after coming over from overseas and being drafted in 2024. The club did not disclose the terms of the deal, leaving the bigger question on how Hukporti fits into the Sixers frontcourt mix as they continue sorting out depth and size. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Suddenly Face A Nick Nurse Question With Labaron Philon Jr
The Sixers backcourt picture changed again with the addition of Anfernee Simons, and it puts rookie Labaron Philon Jr. in an interesting spot as training camp approaches. Philon is expected to be part of the regular rotation, and his fit matters because Philadelphia is trying to sort out how much creation, pace and ballhandling it can get from its guard group without losing too much on the other end.
Nick Nurses preferences will loom over those decisions, because the Sixers have to balance what Simons brings offensively with what Philon can offer as a young guard who already plays with a polished feel. Philons style also invites the inevitable Tyrese Maxey comparison, since both attack off the dribble and thrive on speed changes, but the bigger question for Philadelphia is how Nurse values those traits when minutes start getting carved up. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Just Put The 76ers Title Push In A Tough Spot
The 76ers spent the offseason chasing a bigger ceiling, and the addition of Jaylen Brown gives them another proven scorer to slot alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. On paper, it is the kind of move that can push a contender closer to the top of the East, but it also changes the shape of the offense in a real way, because Brown has long been at his best when he can create his own looks and attack without waiting for the play to come to him.
Now Philadelphia has Brown, Embiid, Maxey and VJ Edgecombe all needing touches in the same starting group, which is where the fit gets tricky. The 76ers have already learned how awkward it can be when high-usage players are asked to shrink their roles, and Nick Nurse and his staff will have to sort through those on-ball responsibilities before the season starts if this lineup is going to work the way the front office imagined. [Read more 🡒]