The Philadelphia 76ers lead the NBA in passes per game this season, just as they did in 16-17. Philadelphia was ranked third in the category in 15-16 and fourth in 14-15 as sharing the ball has been a central tenant of Brett Brown's offense.

“It’s the single thing in my opinion that can erode a locker room, erode sort of the fabric of a team,” Brown said of the Sixers’ passing. “Because it creeps into defense as much as it is blatant in offense. When you don’t share the ball, it’s a feeling that we all feel. In the locker room, they all play the game, they feel it deeper than we do.”

Brown has frequently repeated the phrase "the pass is king" during his tenure with Philadelphia.

J.J. Redick had admired the way the 76ers shared the ball on offense even before he signed with the team this offseason.

“It’s probably one of the main reasons I wanted to come here was because of how they played in the past,” Redick said. “Sometimes with the intention of sort of not trying to win at times too, but I liked how they played. I just kind of envisioned myself enjoying sort of playing in this atmosphere.”