Philadelphia 76ers Practice Media Availability | Justin Edwards and Johni Broome | 07.02.25

Philadelphia 76ers Practice Media Availability | Justin Edwards and Johni Broome | 07.02.25

Justin, uh TJ was saying yesterday that he’s kind of relying on you and Adam as the veterans of the team to sort of be leaders.
I knew that on this squad maybe like how do you sort of try to lead this room and and be that sort of presence?
Um just I probably say not trying to do too much, you know, still trying to trying to do what I can do best and then, you know, if I feel like I can help with one of the one of the things we’re doing, I’ll you know, put my foot in. But outside of that, you know, I just try to try to do what I can do best. I not I don’t try to overdo it, you know.
Is it weird you say, “Oh, I’m not a vet yet.” Is it weird to feel a little more experienced in this type of environment? Uh yeah, cuz this time last year I was a rookie. So, uh yeah, it is crazy. But as the vets say, I’m not I’m a rookie until the first game of the season. So, what is it what you most about like BJ and Jana?
What surprise you about BJI so far? Um, I played against both of those guys. I played against Broom in college, played against VJ in high school. So, you know that, uh, they’re really like outgoing people. Room is more like me, quiet a little bit, but I feel like he’s once we get him more com, I feel like he’ll be more open, but I feel pretty good about those guys. You know, they’re they’re going to come in and try to help our team and help us internally. And then I guess like for you as a veteran in this case like you have any like kind of advice for them you know going through this process
just to stay positive that’s biggest thing you know I always tell you that just to stay positive it’s going to be a lot of ups and downs going to be times where you know they might not play I might not play but you know we got to stay levelheaded and stay positive.
I know you talked about playing against BJ in high school and a lot of videos of that when you played against me. But but what did you outside of from that? What do you remember from that game?
We got smoked. That’s what I remember. We lost. But we just had one city of Ponzo. So
yeah. Yeah. We’ve been coming off of winning that and then came back a day later and played them.
Did you know at that particular point that like this guy was going to be
I didn’t know who he was until after that game. I’m like, “Yo, he’s nice.” But kudos to him, you know, all the hard work you put into to get to this point.
And for you, like I know you guys agreed to a a a new contract. Um but multi-year just talk about the you know you went from being undrafted two-way guy um guaranteed for the rest of the season to now having a multi-year deal with them. Uh you know it’s just I feel like it just shows a lot of hard work I put in. You know um going undrafted you know I didn’t let it determine the rest of my basketball life. So you know I just worked hard and just you know did what I was able to do and now I got a contract. I know it’s early, but have you talked to any of the undrafted rookies here about what you experienced as an undrafted rookie and and what you were able to do to get the position here now? No, I haven’t yet. Not yet. Just for you, is there is it just a comfortability now because you’ve been here now, you know, you know the ropes, you know the facility, you know all that. Is there just a comfort level of being here and being able to just kind of show up and do the work and that’s it?
Yeah. Yeah. Just more like being comfortable. Um, it’s like that’s the biggest day for me. Yes. What your experience at summer league throughout that process last year? What are you taking from that that you feel like is going to help you this year?
Uh not to overthink really. Like LA this time last year, you know, I went into trying to prove a point and it I I guess it didn’t it didn’t it didn’t I didn’t feel like I was playing at my best. So, you know, just going in there and just playing free and just doing what I can do. as far as specific areas of your game, are there any any ones that you’re going to be focusing on essentially?
Um, just trying to be a all-around player, you know. Um, try to, you know, my one of my goals to try to get two offensive rebounds a game, you know, I do that. That’s more opportunity for our team, you know, being a vocal guy, you know, playing defense and all that. So, just just trying to be the leader on the court so everybody else will follow after me. Thanks. Just how would you describe the first couple days of of practice?
Um it’s been really good. You know, it’s been uh intense. It’s been competitive. Uh it’s been fun, you know, uh getting to know the guys. Um kind of being able to be on the court with him, get extra shots with him, you know. I think um we’re kind of building that chemistry while competing at the same time. So that’s kind of good.
We saw you getting up shots with the Dim just now. What have you made of getting to know him? How has that sort of relationship grow so far?
Um you know, first he’s a great teammate. you know, um he talks, you know, he leads by example. Um he’s a willing worker. He’s going going to get the extra work in. Um super athletic, super bouncy, he’s twitchy. Um it’s going to be very fun to play with him. I I guess I guess for you, I guess, is there anything specific you want to maybe achieve or work on with in this summer league and you want to play for? I just want to get better each and every day. Um you know, continue to grind. um step by step being close to my teammates, earn earning the guys trust and uh you know ultimately go out there and win.
I guess what are your kind of early impressions of DJ just being able to get on the court with him up close and personal impressions?
Kind of the same thing. You know, he’s a a great player obviously, you know, he gets downhill whenever he wants to. Um and he’s scary when he get down there, you know, cuz he’s so athletic. You know, he’s a know he’s a playmaker. He makes the guys around him better as well. And on defensive end, he’s going to pick you up and uh cause habit.
Yeah, I was going to ask where does that athleticism most show up on the floor?
A lot of people may think like him at the rim, which is true, you know, um he’s very explosive. I think him being so athletic. I think um he’s a smart player, so it allows him to bother defenders and get underneath them.
What would you say is the biggest misconception about your your game? I don’t know. I mean, they say a lot of stuff. you know, my job is to keep pushing them along. How would you describe uh this coaching staff and like getting to know them um and working with them?
I’d say they’re very personal. Um you know, uh they’re fun to be around, you know, that’s not it’s not like a very so much strictness, you know, they come up to you, talk to you, make sure you’re doing all right, that type of thing. So, I think um it’s going to be a fun year, you know, um getting to know the coaching staff continue to do that. Even the strength and conditioning, you know, uh dietitionian, the trainers, I think everybody around has been good and uh I think we’re all looking to one go.
You have obviously a very long college season and you were dealing with a couple bumps and bruises. Just how are you feeling physically right now that you’re about to start something?
I mean, I’m feeling I’m feeling really good. You know, um I’m in a sixes gear, even though I’m in the NBA. It’s my first week, so I can’t complain, you know. Uh, everything’s been going in my favor, so I mean, no complaints.
But that week, I mean, the first week you get drafted, right? The next thing you I think you went to train here.
Yeah. You think Well, yeah. You got here and then next thing you know, you come in the building, it’s like a celebration. The next thing you know, I see y’all at the Rocky Steps. I see y’all eating cheese steaks. I mean, what’s this whole experience been for you since?
Uh, I mean, it’s been very good. you know, um they kind of had to take me to the staples of uh Philly, you know, going down the streets and trying feet for cheese steaks. You know, my cheese steak was always like Charlie’s um or something like that, but they say that ain’t real cheese steak. So, but obviously I had a couple spots that they’re they’re better. I would say they’re really good. Um seeing the steps, just kind of seeing the the cultural things in Philly was good. Uh having a celebration, you know, walking into the arena was very good. I signed my contract yesterday. That was amazing, you know. Um I got a pride against Dick for the first time. That was very good, you know. So I think overall my experience today has been really good so far. All right. That was good.

Justin Edwards and Johni Broome speak to the media.