In light of Women’s History Month, we take a look at some of the female inspirations behind the Sixers. Here’s what they said.
Jimmy Butler
I’m going with Serena (Williams). Absolutely incredible. The fact that she can be so dominant, and have a child, come back and still be dominant. That is dope, amazing to me. And everyone knows who Serena is. It’s special. I witnessed it after The French Open, once. You’re talking about a fierce competitor who gives her all.
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Joel Embiid
My mom for sure. The way she raised us, everything she put us through. How resilient she’s been, because I lost my brother four years ago and it still bothers her a lot but she keeps pushing me, she keeps supporting me and my sister, so I really appreciate her resiliency.
Ben Simmons
My mom and my sister. My mom because she raised all of us, and that’s not easy having six kids. And also my sister, she just had Savannah, her daughter, and she is still dealing with the problems now, and just looking at her, and she’s been strong for her, putting all of her problems aside … When you bring another life into the world, you look at things differently and you give up a lot more, and she has given up a lot.
NBA
JJ Redick
My mom. She homeschooled her kids, she then became a working mom. She raised us all to be extremely competitive and have a good value system, and she has always been an incredible woman and one of my heroes.
Tobias Harris
My sister. Her hard work and being the first person in my family to get a basketball scholarship, and how inspiring she was for me and my brothers and sisters to work as hard as you can.
Boban Marjanovic
My mom and my wife. And my grandma and my sister. My life is better (because of them). They have a special place in my heart to make you fight for everything.
Mike Scott
Serena (Williams), accomplished a lot. Had a child, came back, killed the game. Best tennis player ever.
Justin Patton
My mom. She raised two twin boys and a girl by herself. Women have a hard job trying to understand men, and also having to understand themselves and how to keep themselves happy and motivate themselves, so it was unique to see her do all of that and still be a great person at the same time.
Amir Johnson
My mother. Keeping me out of trouble, teaching me wrong from right and giving me life, and my sister, showing how hard you have to work to raise a family. My sister, one of the reasons I got into sports, was because she played ball first, and I did that, and she ran track. I kind of copied everything my sister did. We got some strong women in life — same with my grandmother, always teaching me to be humble, and that’s how I pretty much go about my life today, always stay humble.
T.J. McConnell
My wife. She inspires me to be a better person and basketball player every day. And my mom, she texts me every day to ask me how I’m doing.
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