Anthony Tolliver looks to help Sixers in any way he can
Tolliver was able to stay in shape while playing at the half-court at Dallas home and participating in open runs twice a week.
Anthony Tolliver relished his time at home in Dallas.
Having played in the NBA for the past 12 years, the power forward enjoyed being around his four children for an extended amount of time. Tolliver was even able to coach the basketball team of his oldest son, Isaiah, 8.
“So I really didn’t want to go into the wrong situation,” Tolliver said of returning to the NBA. “I wanted to make sure the situation was really a great fit and something I really wanted to do.”
But the opportunity to play for the 76ers, and possibly contend for an NBA championship, was too hard to pass up.
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Tolliver signed a 10-day contract with the Sixers on Monday and participated in Wednesday’s shootaround prior to the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center.
He said Wednesday that he doesn’t remember when the Sixers reached out him .
“They are all kind of running together now, but I got the call and they asked if I was in shape,” Tolliver said. “I said, ‘Absolutely,’ and they said, ‘How soon can you jump on a plane?’ I said, ‘In about two hours.’
“So I kissed all my kids, kissed my wife and said, ‘See you later. We will figure it out.’”
So the father of four children headed Philly and then to the Sixers practice facility in Camden, where he was tested and got ready for his opportunity.
This opportunity enables him to reunite with former Detroit Pistons teammate Tobias Harris. Tolliver is also looking forward to playing with All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
“We have a super-talented team,” he said. “So being a shooter, being someone who likes to spread the floor for everybody else, I feel like it’s a good fit. Having guys like Ben and Embiid down low is going to really open up some things.
“Hopefully, I’m able to knock down some shots.”
Tolliver, 35, split time last season among the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Portland Trail Blazers. He shot 41.5% on threes in 13 games with the Grizzlies. He’s a 37.3% three-point shooter for his career.
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The Sixers are his 11th NBA team. He has career averages of 6.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 719 games, with 109 starts.
Tolliver was able to stay in shape while playing on the half court at his house and participating in open runs twice a week in Dallas.
“I feel very prepared as far as the opportunity moving forward,” he said. “Honestly, if that means playing two minutes or 20 minutes or whatever, I’m just here, man. Or just playing nothing, playing no minutes at all, I’m here to support in any way I can. Try to lead and help these young guys that are not necessarily in the rotation help them through this time, because I’ve been there.”
He knows from experience that that type of veteran leadership can help a team.