Sixers summer league coach gives marching orders to rookie Johni Broome
While everybody has their eyes on Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick of this 2025 NBA draft, Broome is a player who the Sixers would like to count on to give them some good minutes at the big man spot. He had a decorated career at Auburn and now needs to translate those winning habits to the NBA level.
"He's got a really good feel," said summer league coach TJ DiLeo. "Especially, when he gets that ball in the short roll area. He's a good bottom-side screener. He screens the bottom side of guys and creates a good pocket. You can get that little pocket pass going downhill and he's a good decision maker out of that. He's got a good touch out of that. He can put his shoulder into guys and that's something I've seen a bit of him so far."
In three seasons at Auburn after two with Morehead State, Broome averaged 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.2 blocks with the Tigers. He was named the 2025 SEC Player of the Year and now just has to make his adjustment to the NBA game which is what DiLeo wants to see with him in the summer league. It's all DiLeo wants to see from the rookie big man.
"I think, right now, the biggest area is getting to know the stuff we're trying to do," DiLeo explained. "Like, we're putting in stuff that's new for everybody. New for him. He's played in the college system and that's his main priority, too. Picking up the stuff we're doing conceptually as a team. I think he's done a great job."
It will be interesting to see if Broome is going to be able to make the proper adjustments to be able to make an impact at the next level. He has a lot of skill and talent, and luckily enough for him, he has a good coaching staff around him that wants to help him succeed.
"I would say they're very personal," Broome said of the staff. "They're fun to be around. There's not, like, so much strictness. They come up to you, talk to you, make sure you're doing alright. That type of thing. So I think it'll be fun here getting to know the coaching staff. Even the strength and conditioning, the dietitian, the trainers, everybody around has been good."
The Sixers will begin the summer league on Saturday against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.
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