Oct 30, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) shoots in front of Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
When Tobias Harris threw down a dunk on Caleb Martin and earned the foul to eventually give the Detroit Pistons, now 1-4, a 16-point lead with four minutes and 17 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the crowd roared in disapproval.
Harris roared right back.
He scored 18 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in his return to Philadelphia.
Harris' season-high for rebounds last season, his final with the Sixers, was 13.
"Any time you get to come back, there's emotions that are always a part of it," Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff said after Detroit's 105-95 victory over the Sixers.
"I also think the way a fanbase reacts to you when you come back adds more emotion to it, and clearly they were vocal when he touched the ball."
The locals were vocal long before Harris first touched the ball, serenading him with boos when he was announced as a starter:
A relatively tame boo for Tobias Harris. pic.twitter.com/zzHSvAiHG2
— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) October 30, 2024
That reaction persisted throughout the game, including during a tribute video to Harris and Paul Reed, also now a Piston, presented at a timeout in the first quarter:
Sixers paid tribute to Tobias Harris and Paul Reed during the first timeout. A BBall Paul chant broke out. A different expression for Harris. pic.twitter.com/w6RMq6lv8p
"The reception, I thought, was great. Like, there's obviously going to be boos and there's obviously going to be people that cheer. In any type of reception, obviously, that is how it is," Harris told reporters.
"So, I knew that it wasn't going to be some tearful moment, I'll tell you that, right? I mean, I knew that coming in. I mean, this is a crowd that they boo their own team. So, that's kind of just how it is."
Not much has changed for the veteran forward since he last donned a Sixers uniform.
The Sixers switch-hunted Harris to mixed results throughout the game, trying to get Tyrese Maxey isolated against a forward whose tendencies he knew quite well. Harris missed his fair share of layups and shots in the paint. He clanked all of his threes.
But, when the Pistons were pulling away and needed a veteran to cement their first victory of the season, Harris answered the bell. He splashed a jumper by the elbow and sealed off smaller defenders inside for finishes in the deep post.
Harris felt he did a good job of not letting the environment bother him. It was by far his best game since returning to Detroit this past summer.
After the game, Harris admitted that the negativity from the crowd was hard to play through when he was a Sixer. He took a different approach in his first visit back, embracing the venom.
"I did thrive off of it...When you're in the moment, it's just tough to get through. But, you know, I think the fans here get a bed rep on just their passion. I've played in different cities and this is one of the cities where you can get booed by fans but you can be out at a restaurant and they'll put their baby in your hands to take a photo," Harris said.
"So, they're just passionate basketball fans. Want to see the team do well. But, they can't hurt you. That's for sure."
