76ers' Doc Rivers on Expectations for Tobias Harris vs. Nets

Expectations remain high for Philadelphia 76ers veteran forward Tobias Harris. As Harris plays on a max contract, the veteran’s salary often sets the bar high, especially when the NBA Playoffs come around.

But it’s not always easy for Harris to hit a consistent stride. Although he’s on a max contract, Harris often finds himself as the Sixers’ fourth option in the starting lineup, as he plays alongside Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Tyrese Maxey.

Sometimes, Harris’ role doesn’t allow him to stand out on the stat sheet. To an outsider, that might be a bad look considering his contract. To the Sixers, it’s not something they seem to be thinking about.

“We’re not worried about it,” said Sixers head coach Doc Rivers. “We just want Tobias to be efficient. It’s tough sometimes when you’re the fourth guy. There’s gonna be a night in this playoffs when Tobias is going to have a big game, and I really believe that. I guarantee it, but then there’s going to be a night where he plays great and has six shots. Does that mean he didn’t get going? Or did that mean he didn’t get a lot of shots? He wasn’t involved, but we scored 130. For Tobias, we just got to get him to keep playing on those nights, and I think overall, honestly, for him, I think he’s done that.”

Statistically, Harris saw a decline in 2022-2023. After averaging 19 points, seven rebounds, and three assists throughout his first three full seasons on the Sixers, Harris’s numbers dropped to 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists in 2022-2023.

Fortunately for the Sixers, Harris shot more efficiently this year. On 11 attempts per game, Harris knocked down 50 percent of his field goal attempts, up two percent from last year. From three, he hit on 39 percent of his shots, another two-percent increase.

“For him, it’s not easy because he’s judged sometimes,” Rivers finished. “He’s a max contract guy, right? So we look at his numbers, but we look at it interiorly. Like, he’s doing everything we’ve asked him to do, and we’re happy with that. It’s tough for a fan of someone to be happy with that, and I get that. You've got to be a hell of a guy to be able to take that. I think overall, he’s handled it well.”

Being in Philly since the Sixers’ 2019 playoff run, Harris knows well that his performance will be under a microscope no matter what. While a larger role is always desired, Harris will have to take what his teammates give him against the Brooklyn Nets and potentially beyond.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.