As the National Basketball Association’s regular season draws closer, organizations are currently holding training camps to allow the players to meet one another, develop offensive and defensive schemes and practice their craft ahead of an 82-game schedule. The Philadelphia 76ers, however, are in the midst of a transitional period in their organization with a new head coach in Nick Nurse and impending trade request from guard James Harden.
During the offseason, Harden called 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey “a liar” and affirmed that he did not want to play for the organization any longer. With his implorement to be moved, it marks the third time in his 14-year NBA career that he has asked off a team, and he reportedly is looking to team up with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on the LA Clippers.
As it currently stands, the 76ers are in Fort Collins, Colo. for the opening stages of the camp and working out with limited media access and player availability. Nurse and his coaching staff wanted more privacy in the opening stages of the team’s new era as they aim to compete for an NBA championship.
Kate Scott, television play-by-play voice of the team, is cognizant of the fact that no one was sure if Harden would show up and the noise surrounding the team, part of the reason why she and other media members are keeping their distance. She appeared on The John Kincade Show Friday morning on 97.5 The Fanatic to explain how she was approached with the entreaty and to provide her thoughts on this year’s group.
“I said, ‘Yeah, I totally understand that,’” Scott recalled in a conversation, presumably with 76ers management. “‘Whatever helps you guys get off to the best start this season as possible, I’m happy to do that,’ so if that means three more days at home coming in to see you all on this Friday morning, I’m happy to do that.”
Many of the 76ers have endured similar situations throughout their careers, including head coach Nick Nurse. When Kawhi Leonard was first traded to the Toronto Raptors, he explicitly stated that he did not want to be there but would try his best to assimilate. Scott emphasized how despite Harden’s looming ask out, he and his teammates get along and interacted throughout the offseason. Kincade contextualized the situation through a media lens, thinking about how such a source of distress would theoretically cause him to grow upset.
“You could like somebody, though, as your radio counterpart – somebody you’re working with – but if they decided to sabotage your broadcast [or] your business, I don’t give a damn how much I like you,” Kincade said. “You’re screwing with me; you’re screwing with my livelihood.”
“I completely agree with that, and I think that is the difference so far,” Scott replied, referencing the situation involving guard Ben Simmons two years ago. “….If you’re showing up and you’re following coaches’ orders and you’re doing everything you need to do and you’re staying at the team hotel, you know.”
The 76ers open preseason play on Sunday, Oct. 8 when they face the Boston Celtics, which will be broadcast on ESPN and over the air on 97.5 The Fanatic. Regular-season action begins on Thursday, Oct. 26 against the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a national doubleheader. Scott and NBC Sports Philadelphia present its first game two days later when the Sixers face the Raptors at 7:30 p.m. EST/4:30 p.m. PST. Philadelphia’s 97.5 The Fanatic is the radio home for all 76ers games during the 2023-24 regular season and will also have all preseason and potential postseason action.
