Nerlens Noel returned to the Wells Fargo Center with positive memories of his three-plus year career with the Sixers that ended last month.
Traded to the Mavericks at the deadline, Noel made his first trip back to the arena he called home on Friday morning for shootaround ahead of his game against his former team.
The big man does not have hard feelings about his time in Philadelphia or being moved to a new team.
“No beef at all,” Noel said.
Noel was the start of “The Process” era. He went through 47 wins and 199 losses in his first three seasons in the NBA.
“A learning experience,” Noel described it. “I think it was definitely a humbling experience in itself, being able to go through something like that where you probably don’t see too often with the few seasons that we had. I think it brought me about, grew me up fast in this league, learning the business, every aspect of how bad or good it can be. I’m in a different position now to where it’s a different organization, a different mindset to looking to the playoffs right now.”
In addition to the team’s losing record, Noel was in the center, literally, of a frontcourt logjam.
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Last season the Sixers struggled with how to pair him and Jahlil Okafor, with one playing out of position when they shared the court.
Noel spoke out at the start of this season when the crowding wasn’t cleared up this summer. At first, he found himself out of the rotation when he returned from knee surgery. The Sixers then shifted their game plan and moved Noel into a sixth man role, with Okafor as the odd man out.
While it was Okafor who was heavily involved in trade talks, to the point where he was held out of games and a road trip, Noel ended up being the big man traded at the deadline.
“It was a tough process to go through,” Noel said. “There were a lot of ups and downs with positions and guys just clogging up at one position. So I mean, it is what it is. I was really bought into the process through my years of really focusing on what Sam Hinkie had envisioned for it, and I think he did an exceptional job of setting something up to where it’s transitioned to an even better place. While I was there I was definitely all with it, but now at this point my mindset is with the Mavericks.”
Noel’s relationships with his former teammates haven't wavered since he was traded. He said it will be “nothing but love” when he sees them. Richaun Holmes visited with him to play video games when Noel got back to Philadelphia.
“I was so close with each player on the Sixers team, to where we all had our own special little bonds,” Noel said.
Noel extended that bond to the Sixers fan base, which he describes as “special.” On Thursday night he gave away free cheesesteaks at Chickie's & Pete's to show his appreciation for their support over the years.
“They had that buffet going so I think everybody got at least one or two, take some back to go,” Noel said. “They were eating good.”
Noel finished up shootaround and headed to the Mavericks' team bus. He still has one unfamiliar stop to make in his familiar territory.
"I’ve never been in that locker room," he said of the visitor's quarters. "I still haven’t; we walked straight onto the court. It’ll be a weird feeling walking into it tonight, just having to dress up and go about things a little differently being in this building. I’m taking it all in. It’ll be a good day."