JJ Redick has played in over 700 games around the NBA. He called Orlando, Milwaukee and Los Angeles home for his first 11 seasons. Playing in Philadelphia, though, is in its own league to him.
“Our crowd is incredible,” Redick said after the Sixers' 108-103 win over the Pistons. “It’s the best home crowd I’ve played with in my career.”
More than 20,000 fans packed the sold-out Wells Fargo Center Saturday night, as they have been doing this season. Redick signed with the Sixers this past offseason expecting a strong fan base at home, and it has not disappointed.
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“I had some good ones in Orlando and sometimes in L.A. with the Clippers we had good home crowds,” Redick said. “But in terms of just consistently bringing it every night, we feed off that. They’re tremendous.”
Sixers fans have been extra vocal this season, whether it is chanting “Trust the Process” or jeering the opponent. They rose to their feet in support as the Sixers fended off a Pistons upset. The only time the fans stood for the visiting team was to give Andre Drummond an ovation for fouling out.
“When Rob Covington hits back-to-back threes and the fans are going nuts, that’s fun for everyone,” Redick said. “That’s when it’s beautiful and that’s when you get great atmospheres.”
The Sixers are in a three-game homestand and Redick wants to hear the crowd every night. The team is 5-2 at the Wells Fargo Center since returning from its West Coast road trip last month, the only losses to the Warriors and Cavaliers.
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“It gives us energy,” Redick said. “I’ve talked about this earlier in the season, but there is a symbiotic relationship I think when it really works between the fans sort of feeding off the players’ energy and the players feeding off the fans’ energy. You can create sort of a frenzied atmosphere.”