Tobias Harris is ready to show why Philadelphia made him the fifth-highest paid player of all time with a five-year, $180million (£140m) contract.
The 76ers are fifth in the Eastern Conference and comfortably on course for the playoffs.
They are missing their two star players, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, through injury but Harris proved on Thursday against the Knicks that he can fill the void as he hit 34 points in a 115-106 win.
Tonight, Philly take on the more daunting task of the LA Clippers but coach Brett Brown has no fears about Harris.
Brown said: “He’s really competitive. If you paid him a nickel or $170million, you’re going to get a highly- competitive player.
“He’s a highly- competitive person – that’s why he’s good.
“He’s very prideful. He’s trying to do his part to earn his keep. He wants to be on a winning team for a long time.”
Questions have been asked about whether Harris had lost his edge after signing such a big deal. But he said: “There’s outside noise but the only noise that matters to me is from my team-mates and my coaching staff.
“You can ask every one of them about the value I bring to this team and they will vouch for that.”
Bucks lead the way
How good are the Milwaukee Bucks this season?
Well, in the past week they became the first team to win 50 games, half a dozen wins ahead of anyone else, and the first team to clinch a playoff spot – a staggering 55 days before the playoffs begin.
Watch out for:
Devonte' Graham was rested last week and the Hornets were hammered by Indiana.
In the next two games he had a total of 39 points and 10 assists, and they won both games.
They are a mediocre team that can’t afford to be without him.
