Pat Croce, Still Feeling Great (Of Course!), Adjusts His Perspective, Hopes to do the Same for Others Touched by Cancer

by gordie | May 23, 2021 | NBA, Philadelphia 76ers, Writing

Deep into a recent 40-minute telephone interview with former Sixers president Pat Croce, I raised the subject of death: How did he, as a 66-year-old cancer survivor, regard such a thing? “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. Well, of course. He has always been Mr....

A legacy of decency: Maurice Cheeks, forever helping others fit in (and not really caring to be noticed)

by gordie | Mar 14, 2021 | NBA, Philadelphia 76ers

The way Michele (Telfair) Ramsey remembers it, there were two ways for a junior-high-aged girl to stand out in Canyon, Texas in the late 1970s — either become a cheerleader, or a basketball player. She was neither, but set out to become the latter. It was a...

As Charles Barkley turns 58, reflections on a voyage that has been unlike any other

by gordie | Feb 22, 2021 | NBA, Philadelphia 76ers

Charles Barkley turned 58 on Saturday, and I couldn’t help but think of something Jim Lynam, Barkley’s last coach with the Sixers, once told me about the Chuckster. “He’s a Hall of Fame player, so people have to appreciate it, but he’s special among that group,” Lynam...

Doc Rivers Brings a Well-Worn Toolkit to a new job, as Sixers begin HIS Process

by gordie | Dec 23, 2020 | NBA, Philadelphia 76ers

New Sixers coach Doc Rivers was talking during a Zoom news conference Monday afternoon about who nudged him toward the profession, given that he played for some pretty notable guys during his 13-year run as an NBA point guard: Mike Fratello for eight years in Atlanta...

Seth Curry, ever the survivor, gives Sixers a new (and likely improved) look

by gordie | Nov 26, 2020 | NBA, Philadelphia 76ers

In May 2019 an NBA assistant coach named Darren Erman — then with New Orleans and just hired to a similar post with the Knicks — hit upon an essential truth about the Curry brothers. About Stephen, a three-time champion and two-time MVP with Golden State,...

LeBron James’ Pleas For Respect Seem Unseemly, Until You Look Deeper

by gordie | Oct 13, 2020 | NBA

So this seemed a little odd: LeBron James, standing alongside his Lakers teammates and various other team personnel (including general manager Rob Pelinka, a Rob Lowe lookalike and former Fab Five adjunct) after the team closed out Miami to win the NBA title Sunday...