It’s only been under three weeks since Cameron Payne made his way over to the Philadelphia 76ers, having been included in a trade that sent Patrick Beverley to the Milwaukee Bucks.

While some fans weren’t too excited about letting the rather beloved Beverley go, Payne has done his best to make the Philadelphia faithful warm up to him, both on and off the court.

This could be seen on Saturday night, when the 29-year-old was a part of the Philadelphia Union’s season opener against the Chicago Fire, striking the famous drum that is synonymous with the start of any soccer game down by the Chester Waterfront.

Payne isn’t the only Sixer to have struck the drum in Subaru Park, as Tyrese Maxey and Paul Reed have partaken in the pregame festivities in recent years.

Since making his way over from the Bucks on the transfer deadline, Payne has proven to be one of the more productive members of the team, averaging 11 points on 41 percent shooting while also showing his knack for playmaking, dishing out three assists per game.

Against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, Payne dropped 16 points, while proving to be lethal from beyond the arch, draining four three point shots. While he had a tough time during his seven-minute stint against his former team, Payne understands that his role could change frequently in a crowded 76ers backcourt.

As for the Union’s home opener, they would end the match in a draw, with Mikael Uhre and Daniel Gazdag finding the back of the net, which was enough for the Eastern Conference contenders to salvage a point from the match.

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Doc Rivers makes claim about playoff failures in Philly return

Doc Rivers returned to Philadelphia as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, and made a claim about last year’s playoffs that probably will not make 76ers fans feel any better.

Prior to Sunday’s game, Rivers reflected on his tenure with the Sixers, particularly how the team failed to close out the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Boston in 2023 despite a Game 6 at home with a 3-2 series lead. Rivers said he felt the 76ers should have won that game, but failed to get the ball to Joel Embiid enough — even though that had been the gameplan.

“I didn’t think Joel got the ball enough. Trust me, it was for him to get it and he didn’t get it,” Rivers said. “I don’t know how healthy he was.”

The 76ers held a 73-71 lead entering the fourth quarter of that Game 6, but managed just 13 points in the final quarter and lost the game and eventually the series. Embiid scored 26 points with 10 rebounds in the game, but was limited to six points on 3-of-6 shooting in the final quarter.

Rivers is perhaps being genuine, and there’s no doubt he has regrets considering how close Philadelphia came to winning that series. However, detractors will probably see this as Rivers making more excuses for his past failures.