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Philadelphia 76ers' Brett Brown reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Philadelphia 76ers' Brett Brown reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Brett Brown Comments on 76ers Rebuilding Process, Young Roster and More

Joe PantornoDec 4, 2015

The Philadelphia 76ers have been bad. Historically bad. After winning just 19 and 18 games, respectively, over the last two seasons, Philadelphia started the 2015-16 season 0-18, tying the league record for worst start to a year in NBA history and setting a new one with 28 straight losses dating back to the end 2014-15 season.

A win against the Los Angeles Lakers snapped the streak, but they lost their following game to the New York Knicks and now sit at 1-19. With the team facing another miserable season, head coach Brett Brown spoke with ESPN.com's Zach Lowe about the rebuilding process and his responsibility to turn things around in Philadelphia:

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"

I do feel the enormity of it from time to time. I wouldn't be telling you the truth if I said that I had thought in Year 3, this was the group I'd be coaching. I didn't realize the roster would play out like it has -- that last year would be almost a redshirt year, with Joel Embiid and Dario [Saric].

"

Instead of going after free agents and building their roster with veterans, the 76ers, who have been one of the worst organizations in the league over the past three years, elected to build their roster through high draft picks.

The 76ers have just one player, Carl Landry, that has five seasons or more under his belt in the NBA. In fact, Landry is the only player on the Sixers over the age of 24. Philadelphia has five rookies and four second-year players on a 15-man roster. 

Joel Embiid, who was drafted third overall in 2014, has yet to play an NBA game due to injuries. 

Rookie Jahlil Okafor, the team's newest first-round treasure out of Duke, has run into off-court issues that have led to a two-game suspension

Brown explained to Lowe how he has to be a mentor to the young players but that he realizes there will be issues: "You only know what you know. I speak freely with my guys. I think they speak freely with me. But I'm sure like any coach or parent of 19-year-olds, stuff goes on that they don't share with me. I'd be naive to think otherwise."

Saying that Brown has his hands full is an understatement with his side's season already looking over through 20 games. For 76ers fans, this is the ultimate test of patience as they face another season where they will be rooting for pingpong balls falling in their favor instead of baskets. 

Unfortunately for Brown, he is being punished for the management's outlook and their ideas of building a team. Even despite the difficult situation he inherited, he could be punished further by losing his job—or he could just decide to leave—if this kind of play continues. 

Stats and information courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.

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