How DJ Ghost helps the Sixers find their rhythm, from special sound effects to navigating the Drake-Kendrick Lamar beef

There’s something different about 76ers practices. Paul George noticed it right away — even though you can’t see it — and said it immediately helped him get “locked in.”

It’s not a drill. Or a workout. But rather custom sounds and curated music specifically geared to help Sixers players find their day-to-day rhythm — and play in unison on the court. And it comes from their own team DJ: Josh Barrett, better known as DJ Ghost.

Barrett, 43, is in his 12th season with the Sixers as their team DJ. But Barrett’s job is more than just hitting the play button on a Spotify playlist. He’s set up at midcourt, catering to each player’s taste, and creating a fun environment for the team — with specific songs and sound effects for each drill.

“I attribute it to when you go to the gym, you lock in with your music or you go for a run, you lock in with your music,” Barrett said. “If you’re in a bad mood and you’re depressed or if you’re in a good mood and you’re happy, music helps you focus. So players like to lock in, and a lot of guys like to listen to the same thing and the same routine. Then they’ll say, ‘Add this to my playlist’ and we’ll add it to our mix. It’s very similar to going to the gym or going for a run.”

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During games, Barrett’s goal is to create an interactive and fun environment, not just for the players and coaches, but for the fans, too. Practices are a bit different. In addition to the mix of songs, players will hear distinct, meaningful noises peppered into practice. It’s Barrett’s job to pay close attention and play certain sound effects at the appropriate moment.

“Kind of like how we do in a game, we have practice sound effects,” Barrett said. “So during practice, we’ll play certain sound effects for different moments. If there’s a slot cut or if somebody dunks, it’s different from a game. If the coach has a break in practice or there’s a free throw, we play certain songs. There is specific music for specific things.”

Sixers fans may be familiar with Mr. Burns from The Simpsons saying, “Excellent” after a made free throw, for example, but the sounds at practice tie into how coach Nick Nurse teaches his players. For example, there’s a slot machine sound for slot cuts. For a good defensive play, there’s an eagle screech, which represents how Nurse wants his players to defend — with their hands out like an eagle. Another song, played specifically for free throws, is “Automatic” by The Pointer Sisters.

Barrett’s role hasn’t been overlooked. George, one of the newest additions to the team, praised both Nurse and Barrett for the atmosphere they create not just in Philly, but on the road.

“It’s different. It’s all different,” George said on Podcast P with Paul George. “His coaching philosophy, his environment that he creates. It’s crazy, we have a DJ that travels everywhere we go. Like, we have a personal DJ that travels with the team in planes. I love that you have to be locked in to what’s going on. We’ll be doing practice, and this free throw song comes on, and right away, you got to understand, ‘All right, it’s time to shoot free throws.’

“It’s little cues to keep us locked in and focused on what’s going on.”

Barrett, whose duties include playing at watch parties and events for season ticket-holders and sponsors, sometimes even travels with the team for nonbasketball events, like when several players went to Nurse’s hometown of Carroll, Iowa, before the season for a charity golf outing put on by the coach.

It should come as no surprise that music is an integral part of the way Nurse coaches the Sixers. The former Toronto Raptors coach also is a music aficionado. During his time in Toronto, he played guitar with the Canadian rock band Arkells during a performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” at a venue that holds more than 16,000 people.

Since arriving in Philly, Nurse was spotted jamming to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” with the Arkells and Philadelphia rock band Mt. Joy — he also performed the song on piano with them on stage. Making music has always been one way Nurse relaxes. When Nurse was with the Raptors, he would bring his portable keyboard on the road.

“It’s calming for me, almost like meditation,” Nurse wrote in Rapture, his book with Michael Sokolove. “I don’t think about basketball when I’m playing music, but I’m pretty sure it helps free the creative part of my brain. And it also helps give me another frame for thinking about what I face during the season with the unpredictability of trades and injuries.”

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With Barrett’s help, Nurse’s love of music now makes a direct impact on the Sixers. Having a team DJ allows for everyone’s musical tastes to be taken into account, rather than a single player taking control with a personal playlist.

“I’m catering to each player individually, instead of one person dictating their playlist,” Barrett said. “I’m accommodating to each player individually. It’s almost like nightlife; you play something for everybody. Or you kind of cater toward your star players. It’s definitely better. And then when the coach talks, you lower it down instead of having someone walk over to the iPhone. I’d say it’s easier. Plus, my job is to be up on all the music. Instead of depending on a nonmusic person to be up on it, I’m up on it.”

Barrett tries his best to make the team happy with his song choices, but he said there’s no such thing as a perfect mix. (You can listen to his pregame mix on Tidal.)

“It’s like, what goes into making the perfect birthday cake?” Barrett said. “Everybody has their own flavor. Everybody has their own individual taste, so, for me, the perfect mix would be if whoever I’m playing it for is happy.”

Barrett is constantly fine-tuning the Sixers soundtrack. Instead of making all the song choices, he gets input from players and coaches.

The team’s most-played artists right now are Kendrick Lamar and Drake, according to Barrett. Of course, after the rappers began beefing, some players were forced to pick sides. And Sixers rookie Jared McCain has made it known that he’s a big Drake supporter.

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“Shout-out to Drake; that’s the [greatest of all time],” McCain said on Podcast P. “I was at the concert when Kendrick was opening up for him. I’ve liked Kendrick’s songs, but I’m going to side with my favorite artist of all time.”

When asked about the team’s favorite song at the moment, Barrett responded, “I plead the fifth,” as Lamar’s “TV Off” played in the background.

Although we may not know what the team’s favorite song is, we definitely know it’s not anything from NBA YoungBoy.

“In previous years, some of the younger guys liked NBA YoungBoy,” Barrett said. “And some of the older guys hated him — I don’t really like him, either. But the younger guys said to play some YoungBoy, so I played it. Older guys were kind of like, ‘No,’ and I agree with them.”

Barrett has been deejaying for close to 26 years. Before working for the Sixers, he worked as a DJ for radio stations, including Q102 and iHeartRadio, and made appearances at nightclubs and private parties. Barrett also was the official DJ for last year’s WrestleMania, which took place at Lincoln Financial Field.

But more than a decade ago, he decided to trade in his busy nightlife for early mornings with the Sixers. A typical night out for Barrett would start at a local nightclub before he finally fell asleep after his shift at around 6 a.m.

Now, the schedule is just a little different for Barrett, who said he’s never really been a morning person.

“I get to the practice facility around 7:30 in the morning,” Barrett said. “Some of the guys come in early, so I have to have the music on at around 8 a.m. I’m playing music from 8 a.m. to 1 [p.m.]-ish, 2-ish. Depends on when practice is over, and some guys stay later. So I’m there for about six hours.”

Despite an early starting time, he wouldn’t trade his job for anything.

“I love what I do,” Barrett said. “I get up and am happy to go to work every day.”