Sixers summer league coach gives marching orders to Johni Broome
· Yahoo Sports
LAS VEGAS -- As Philadelphia 76ers second-year big man Johni Broome prepares to move on from a tough rookie season in which he was limited to only 11 games, the No. 35 pick of the 2025 NBA draft is looking to use the summer league as a jumping point for him to improve.
Visit afrikasportnews.co.za for more information.
It was a good start for the skilled big man as he had 19 points and 13 rebounds in a win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday. He shot 9-for-18 from the floor and 1-for-5 from deep as he looks to become an all-around player for Philadelphia.
Summer league coach TJ DiLeo has some hopes and plans for Broome in the summer league and Thursday was a good start for him.
"I want him to shoot 3s," DiLeo stated. "I want him to shoot 3s. He's been working on it. I think it'll be a part of his game. Then, I want him to take care of the ball, and I want him to control the game a little bit. We should be able to play through him a little bit, and he's a good decision maker. I want him to play physical and defensively. I want him to be great positioning-wise. Like, he's got to be in spots early. His positional defending has to be in great. He has to think a step ahead on that end of the floor."
A big aspect of Broome's game is his rebounding as shown in Thursday's win. Of the 13 rebounds, five of them were on the offensive glass. If he is going to continue gobbling up rebounds in that aspect, then the Sixers are going to be happy with what they have seen. The big man out of Auburn is on his way to being one of the more physical and effective rebounders in the game.
"His instincts are unbelievable," DiLeo added. "Like, every shot he's following, guards are downhill. He's following it. He knows where the ball is coming off the rim. He does his work early. It's a ton of value in that. I think even next game, like what I want him to improve on, is like he's got to make a couple more of those kickbacks, and I think he should. He’s very capable of it, and just possession values. Value the possessions in this league, and if you got a guy that can do that, like that's a skill you have."
Broome averaged 9.5 rebounds in his collegiate career. If he can bring that at a high rate for Philadelphia, then it changes everything for him and the team moving forward. He can be a rotational piece as long as he plays his role, and can find ways to score even, then he can be a piece Philadelphia can work with.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers summer league coach gives marching orders to Johni Broome