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Brown: National schedule reflects changing perception of 76ers

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia 76ers will have three nationally televised games during the 2016-17 regular season, which is three more than they had last season ... and the season before that.

Date Opponent Time Network
Oct. 26 Oklahoma City Thunder 8 p.m. ESPN
Nov. 17 Minnesota Timberwolves 8 p.m. TNT
Dec. 16 Los Angeles Lakers 8 p.m. ESPN

Philly won just 28 games over the past two years, which helps explain why the NBA was so reluctant to put the team in front of a massive audience.

The past is the past, though, and with an influx of talent joining the roster, head coach Brett Brown feels NBA fans and the Association as a whole are ready to take the Sixers a bit more seriously.

"It's really, I think, a statement to the way the public views our young and exciting team," Brown told Brian Seltzer during a recent appearance on the The BroadCast. "There's a lot of mystery surrounding Joel Embiid. There's a lot of, not so much mystery, I just think interest, anticipation, in the arrival of Ben (Simmons) and Dario (Saric)."

Brown added, "There's a real fascination (with) how we're going to pull this thing together. ESPN has recognized that and put us on national television for the first time since I've been here."

Only the Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, and Brooklyn Nets will have fewer national games than the 76ers. The 73-win Golden State Warriors have the most with 28.

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