From 2013-2016, the Philadelphia 76ers were basically put together to lose. The rosters that were constructed by then-GM Sam Hinkie were not very good, and the goal was to lose as many games as possible so that the team could get the best possible picks in the NBA Draft.
In the 2015-16 season, the 76ers were very bad. After 18 games that season, Philadelphia was 0-18, and after 31 games, the 76ers were 1-30, which was perfect for Hinkie and “The Process,” which the 76ers’ rebuilding efforts were called during Hinkie’s time as the team’s general manager.
With the 76ers struggling at point guard during that 2015-16 season, the team made a move as they acquired PG Ish Smith from the New Orleans Pelicans, who played with Philadelphia the previous season before signing with the Pelicans in 2015.
Smith came in and immediately was a factor for the team. In his first game with the 76ers, Smith led Philadelphia to a road win in Phoenix against the Suns, and in Smith’s first six games with the 76ers, Philadelphia went 3-3, which had some fans concerned. According to Smith, Philly fans were getting mad at him for doing what many fans love, which is winning.
“Everybody was heated,” Smith recently told goforitradio. ‘We got rolling because we had lost so many close games, I remember. We had lost so many close games because we had started off rolling, and all of sudden, we had won like four in a row.”
Even though the 76ers were not a very good team and finished the 2015-16 season 10-72, Smith loved the way the fans supported the team.
“One thing I loved about the Philly fans is they still came out,” Smith said.
Philadelphia would get the number one overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, and they would get Ben Simmons, who has paid dividends, including being a two-time All-Star and winning Rookie of the Year.
“The Process” has worked to a degree, Philadelphia has won over 50 games the past two seasons, but they have not won a title. However, their two big stars, who were products of “The Process,” Joel Embiid and Simmons, are still young, so they have time.
In terms of Smith, his career has flourished. He signed a three-year, $18 million deal with the Pistons in 2016 before signing a two-year, $12 million contract with the Wizards last offseason. Before the season was suspended, Smith started 19 games for the Wizards and averaged 10.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game.
Unfortunately for Hinkie, he would not see “The Process” through, as he resigned during the 2015-16 season after the team brought in Jerry Colangelo as Chairman of Basketball Operations. To date, Hinkie has not gotten another job as a team executive in the NBA.
Hate it or love it, the 76ers’ success today, and Smith’s opportunities in the league may not have been possible without “The Process.”
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