I'm Just A Sixers Fan! The Lauren Fanoftheyear Story

The story continues. The time is now July 23rd, 2022. Over the next 2 months I would post NBA players birthdays, an NBA legend's death, a wedding, a possible Dr. J sighting(???), a Sixer player getting attacked abroad, a new player signing, and I had a major announcement of my own! ...and I was finally able to find that bottle of James Harden wine!

The time is July 10, 2022. The story picks up where Season 3 left off. It's my last day at 2022 NBA Summer League in Vegas. I even ran into an NBA coach in the concourse as I arrived at the Thomas & Mack Center! By the end of July, a new proposed downtown Sixers arena was announced, 76 Place at Market East. I was thrilled and shared my excitement during an interview with Krystle Rich from NBC-10....

The time is now July 2022. On a whim, I decided to take a trip to Las Vegas to attend Summer League. This was one of my most favorite fan experiences! I would mingle with passionate fans like myself, and even come face to face with a few surprises that made my gasp!

The time is now May, 12 2022. We are officially in the offseason. Kendall and I decided to take a getaway trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica. I can never fully unplug from my Sixers because there are always signs! There were lots of moves/ trade talks during this offseason. I was fine as long as Tyrese Maxey was off the table. Kendall and I also had the honor of attending the red carpet film premiere of...

The time is now May, 2022 and we are facing the number #1 Eastern Conference Seed- Miami Heat in Round 2/ Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs. We were down in the series 0- 1, and Game 2 was in Miami. We were playing without our best player, Joel Embiid due to an orbital bone fracture and injured thumb. Could James Harden, Tobias Harris and a young Tyrese Maxey step up and get us over the hump? Embiid was...

The time is now April 28, 2022. Round 1/ Game 6 against the Toronto Raptors would cause Embiid's orbital bone fracture in the closing minutes. We advanced to the 2nd round against the Miami Heat but would be without our best player. Coach Doc Rivers said this wasn't the Paul Reed Victory Tour, but I had faith in BBall Paul. I decided to fly to Miami for my first road playoff game, and visiting my...

The time is now April 16, 2022. Our 4th Seed Philadelphia 76ers face the 5th Seed Toronto Raptors. Joel Embiid's game improves with the support of a true point guard, James Harden. Tyrese Maxey shows early signs of being something special, and even though I thought Danny Green was the slow, old guy on the roster, he came up big for us during this round, in addition to his veteran leadership on and...

The time is April, 2022 and I am reliving the end of the 2021- 2022 season, as we head into the playoffs with Joel Embiid, who is coming off an extraordinary, herculean regular season! We also had the addition of James Harden, the veteran leadership of Tobias Harris, Danny Green, and a bunch of young talent- Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton. Could this be enough to get us over the hump...

The time is March 24, 2022 and I was with Vince and Philly Sports Trips for the Ultimate LA Road Trip. I got to see my Sixers play the LA Clippers. Even though at the time they played at the same NBA arena, I counted the Clippers game as my 15th NBA arena. While in LA I took the opportunity to visit my spunky 70+ year old, Aunt Bess who lived in LA for most of her life, went sightseeing thru Holly...

The time is March 15, 2022. I had to say goodbye to the biggest NY Knicks fan I ever met and then prepare for my L.A road trip with Philly Sports Trips. We saw a great Sixers/ Lakers game, and I was able to log my 14TH NBA Arena! I have met the most amazing people just being a Sixers fan!!!

The time is March 2022, I had the 10th circled on my Sixers calendar. This would be Ben Simmons' first game back at the Wells Fargo Center after the James Harden trade. The question on everyone's mind was, would he play or not? ...and if he did, to boo or not to boo was the real question. I would also get some unexpected sad news...

The time is the end of February 2022. I traveled to my 10th NBA arena- Madison Square Garden to see my Sixers play the NY Knicks. It would be my first time seeing James Harden play in a Sixers uniform, live. For the first time in a long time, our team was moving in the right trajectory!

Joel Embiid was out there playing MVP-level basketball practically every game. We were watching greatness, and I can honestly say now, that I took that for granted. Our team was also playing well, and I was anxiously awaiting the addition of league assist leader and new Sixer, James Harden.

The time is now February 2022. Ben Simmons wanted out, but Daryl Morey held the cards and made it clear he'd be patient with getting an all-star caliber player in exchange. I wanted James Harden, but not at the risk of giving up Tyrese Maxey or Matisse Thybulle! While this process was playing out, I attended a game and got a point- out from Tobias Harris!

Joel Embiid was having a strong season putting up incredible stats, I was getting more exposure as a Sixers superfan. A conversation with a Facebook friend, would give me the opportunity to be a Sixers Ambassador! I attended another road game, seeing my Sixers play at 9 different NBA arenas and Tyrese Maxey would give me the best Birthday gift ever!

January, 2022- Joel Embiid goes on an incredible scoring streak, making it look easy. That random Wednesday when I shot hoops with Shake Milton and he paid for my lunch at Honeygrow! :-)

I faced my fears and competed in the Society 76 Skills Challenge! It turned out to be one of my favorite fan experience moments to date! Also- Joel Embiid was putting up big numbers like it was nothing. It got to a point where we as Sixers fans were expecting nothing less of him every single game. We were witnessing greatness. I don't even think we realized it at the time.

The year is 2021. Kendall and I add another NBA arena to the list and witnessed a milestone game for Joel Embiid, who was already playing at an elevated level. At the end of the game, Joel Embiid would come face to face with Kendall and give her the best surprise birthday gift!

The thought of getting Damian Lillard was quickly diminishing, Ben was still holding out, and how an interaction with Tyrese Maxey on a road trip in Memphis would make my day and have me love him even more!

Despite Ben sitting out, we were still playing well under Doc Rivers. Damian Lillard was with the Portland (Trail)Blazers but he was still an option! I came up with something to add to my Bucket List, and Kendall and I would run into some amazing people during our Sixers road trip to Atlanta.

The Ben Simmons drama continued and was national sports media's hot topic! I visited my 6th NBA arena- the Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans, and ran into our GM & President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey!

I heard that Tyrese Maxey was going to be at 97.5 The Fanatic's Fan Fest and I had to be there to see him. Thanks to Jamie Lynch aka The Bro, I got the opportunity of a lifetime!

Ben was my favorite Sixer, but it was time for me to move on from him. It was easy because just the idea of getting Dame Lillard got me VERY excited! Along with Anthony Gargano and the majority Sixers fans, I was willing to do my part to recruit him to Philadelphia! Also during this time I received a few unexpected Sixers gifts that I will forever treasure!

Ben Simmons was the scapegoat, but was the playoff elimination SOLELY Ben Simmons fault? Sixers play-by-play announcer, Marc Zumoff announced his retirement and I knew it was the end of an era. Looking towards the future, is there REALLY a chance we can get Damian Lillard?????!

Reliving the memories of the unforgettable 2021 playoffs. The story continues from 1st Round/ Game 5 vs. Washington Wizards, to the 2nd Round vs. Atlanta Hawks. ...and the last time we would see Ben Simmons play in an NBA game wearing a Sixers uniform.