In 1683, the Concord arrived in Old City from Krefeld, an artisan community in Germany, with 33 people aboard, many of whom practiced the Mennonite and Quaker faiths.
America’s newest arrivals took the windy, wooded trail uptown, settling along the Lenape Great Road, what today is called Germantown Avenue, the Northwest’s main thoroughfare.
Mennonites are Anabaptists, Christians who are baptized as adults. And although Quakers aren’t, the two groups worshipped together in the home of settler Thönes Kunders at 5109 Germantown Avenue. Their shared belief in Christian pacificism and non-violence united them.
Here they drafted a petition that would become the public protest against slavery in British Colonial North America. Germantown’s history is rooted in this incident.
This historic protest will be remembered at Saturday’s firstival at the Historic Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse. Each weekend in 2026, the Philadelphia Historic District is throwing a party in honor of America’s 250th birthday. The bashes mark events that happened in Philadelphia before anywhere else in America and often the world.
That is the original, restored 1688 Germantown protest against slavery. It’s on deposit at Haverford Colleges library’s Quaker collection. It had been missing for decades until discovered in a vault at Arch Street meetinghouse
Early Germantown settlers were familiar with European slavery. However, America’s version of chattel slavery, with its backbreaking labor, cruelty, and separation of families, went against Quaker and Mennonite religious beliefs, said Craig Stutman, a history professor at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown.
Historians believe this inspired Quaker friends and Mennonites — Garret Henderich, brothers Abraham and Dirck op den Graeff, and Germantown’s founder Francis Daniel Pastorious — to draft a petition‚ stating good Quakers must had to reject the brutal human trafficking. On April 18, 1688, the men signed the protest in Kunder’s home.
Artist Malachi Floyd said, “This piece commemorates the first public protest against slavery in America, recognizing the early courage to challenge injustice and advocate for human dignity. “
Pastorious, Hendricks, and the op den Graeff brothers took their petition to local Quaker meetings in Dublin, today’s Abington Friends; the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting; and the annual meeting in Burlington, NJ. They wanted the Quaker hierarchy to acknowledge slavery was an evil practice that needed to stop.
Their pleas were swept under the rug because even in these early American Quaker circles, enslaved people were the backbone of the economy.
“Even people like Pennsylvania’s founder William Penn owned slaves and didn’t want to touch the political lightening rod,” Stutman said.
The rejection of the protest petition didn’t stop the fight.
In 1758, Quakers George Keith, Benjamin Lay, and Anthony Benezet, convinced Quakers to enact a law saying slaveholders could not be members of the Society of Friends.
“This was a first step in the direction of allyship with free and enslaved Black people who had long been fighting for freedom through slave revolts and cobbling together abolitionist societies,” Stutman said.
“And it was the foundation. So ultimately by the late 18th and early 19th century, Philadelphia would be a place where Black and white people worked together and fought against the institution of slavery, and where the enslaved came for freedom.”
A recent people of the Mennonite Meetinghouse in Germantown, 6119 Germantown Avenue.
The protest petition was lost in the Quaker archives sometime in the 1700s. It was rediscovered in 1844, when it was used by abolitionists to inspire a new generation of freedom fighters.
It currently resides at the Haverford Library Quaker and Special Collections.
This week’s Firstival is Saturday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Historic Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse, 6119 Germantown Avenue. The Inquirer will highlight a “first” from the Philadelphia Historic District’s 52 Weeks of Firsts program every week. A “52 Weeks of Firsts” podcast, produced by All That’s Good Productions, drops every Tuesday.
Quakertown’s response to Friday’s student walkout is a disgrace. When teenagers leave school to protest, the role of police is to protect life and de-escalate. Keep students out of traffic, keep bystanders safe, and help everyone get home. It is not to turn a civic act into a street fight. Videos and witness accounts from Quakertown show a chaotic, physical confrontation between officers and students, exactly the kind of escalation law enforcement should be trained to prevent. Even if some students acted irresponsibly, adults with badges are held to a higher standard. Force against minors should be the last resort, not the first tool.
Most alarming is that detained students were held through the weekend. That is punitive, unnecessary, and indefensible. These are children. They should have been released immediately to their families. Bucks County’s independent investigation must be thorough, transparent, and swift. But the moral line is already clear. Quakertown’s young people deserved calm supervision and guidance. They got aggression and detention.
Brandon McNeice, head of school and CEO, Cornerstone Christian Academy, Philadelphia
Using kid gloves
Being a police officer is difficult. It comes with risk, demands courage, and requires split-second decision-making. Policing youth is even more difficult. One would then assume that this incredibly difficult assignment would be subject to intense training and that clear standards would exist to guide every interaction. Unfortunately, when it comes to policing youth, that is not the case. The typical law enforcement officer, at most, receives several hours of training directed at juvenile law.
But how many of them train on the developmental differences between adults and young people? Not near enough. To the detriment of both the community and the officer, these interactions are ripe for undesirable, yet predictable, outcomes. There is no dispute that youth are different from adults. We all know this. That is not political or controversial. Yet, as a community, we have not required change. Maybe the recent events in Quakertown are enough to demand it. We do not accept other professional specialties to just figure it out with kids; we shouldn’t with police, either. Not for them, and not for us.
Anthony V. Pierro, executive director, Strategies for Youth, Raleigh, N.C.
Voting issues
A recent Inquirer article regarding U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick addressing the voting issues in Chester County last year states there is “no evidence that voters were turned away,” yet also reports that some voters “voluntarily left” when their names were missing from the pollbook. That may be legally accurate if provisional ballots were offered. But if an eligible voter shows up, can’t find their name, and leaves without voting — for any reason — the system did not function as it should. The issue isn’t only whether anyone was formally denied. It’s whether the process worked smoothly and clearly for every voter. In a less affluent area, where voters may not be able to return later, the outcome could reasonably be viewed as disenfranchisement. Technical compliance matters. So does operational competence.
Jeffrey Williams, Malvern
Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.
DEAR ABBY: I was always the wild child and did pretty much what I wanted. My four siblings stuck to the straight and narrow. We stayed close and loving, though. We are old now, and they all lead very comfortable lives. I, however, became injured and gravely ill. I could no longer work and now live on supplemental security income and food stamps.
My siblings all give generously to food banks and homeless charities, even putting some homeless people up in hotels, which is great. But not one of them thinks to ask me if I have enough food or anything. I’m really hurt. Luckily, my affordable housing will offer some food for the residents, so I’m OK.
Should I say anything to my siblings? Occasionally, in the past, they have helped me, like buying me a chest of drawers or some other minor thing. They could easily support me if they wanted to. Should I just be grateful for that?
— UNDERPERFORMING IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR UNDERPERFORMING: Your relatives are not mind readers. If you need help, speak up, explain the problem and ask for help in plain English. The worst they can do is refuse, and you will be no worse off than you are.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: I’m worried about my husband’s grief response. His mom collapsed and died in our driveway. At the time, I responded quickly. I made sure everyone was fed and paid for the funeral service. That was all fine. But now, I don’t understand why he’s not grieving. I love my husband very much, but this has me confused. Please advise.
— LETTING IT OUT IN OREGON
DEAR LETTING IT OUT: Please accept my sympathy for the shocking loss of your mother-in-law. We are not clones in the way we respond to death. Everyone does it differently, including your husband. If his mother was a strong influence in his life, he will feel her absence. If he’s still eating and sleeping well and is able to concentrate, do not let this absence of emotion worry you. This is his journey, and if anything changes, your doctor can refer him to a grief support group.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: I am a disabled person. When I go to doctors’ offices or restaurants, there are usually two doors to get in. Sometimes, if someone is coming in or out, they will hold the door open for me. However, when they do, almost every time, another person will push past me, almost knocking me down.
What can I say to them about their rudeness? One of these days they might be in my position and need someone to hold the door for them. The next time it happens, I’m going to tell them “The door was held open for the disabled person, not for you. Be glad you can walk well!” What would you say, Abby? I can’t believe how rude the country is getting.
— TRYING TO GET THROUGH IN VIRGINIA
DEAR TRYING: A better word than “rude” to use would be “entitled.” If it happened to me, I would say loudly that the door was held for me because of my disability. Then I would add how fortunate I felt not to have been injured again this time.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Just as it’s easy to regard a cute child with love, you can notice your inner self affectionately. Self-awareness brings good fortune. You’ll notice your patterns and interpretations without judgment.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Keep imagining yourself reaching a goal. You can envision this from many angles and really get into the feeling of it. The more you see it, the more real it becomes in your mind’s eye and soon in everyone else’s eyes, too.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The uncertain task is before you. Until you get a few experiences under your belt, it’s totally normal to be angsty about new circumstances. But with every step completed, you develop a stronger belief in your ability to handle challenges.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). It’s one of those days when the body moves before the mind weighs in. There’s a noble velocity to it — bags grabbed, words already forming, attention fully oriented. Duty as muscle memory.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll make a sale, not because you’re persuasive, but because what you have is a good match for someone who needs it. Your sincere desire is to help people out, and they can feel the truth in this.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You have built much in your life, but some relationships can’t be built so much as they’ll be allowed and experienced as they come together in a way that can’t be forced, only observed and accepted.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Oh, the fascinating minutiae of an unfolding relationship. As much as you love an intellectual approach to getting acquainted, you’re very much aware of multiple aspects and factors in play as you decide how this is going to go.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Even when people don’t tell you what they want, you can usually figure it out. But today, not knowing makes you guess answers, some right (fun!) and others wrong (even more fun!).
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). To be in conflict is to be engaged. Don’t forget that negative attention is still attention, and many find it preferable to the absence of attention. Remember that attention (regardless of what kind) is powerful in its ability to grow things.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The journey is long, and when you take it at a comfortable stride, you avoid missteps, injury and weariness. And though you can’t stand it when others tell you to “relax,” you will very much enjoy the message as a self-direction.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Aim your dreams to the clouds while working in the trenches. Groundwork is essential to your success. Not only does it give you a solid foundation, but it also gives you the wisdom to be an excellent steward of your rewards.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You never know who is hurting or who can be helped or even saved by a little kindness. So you do it before it’s an obvious need. You treat strangers with friendliness, loved ones with tenderness and yourself with the utmost love and respect.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 26). It’s your Year of Playful Alchemy when your daring mixes and bespoke formulas transform common elements into the extraordinary and rare. Work develops purposely and pays you better too. New studies lead to applied skill and will open social realms, too. More highlights: Art bursts into form. Romantic encounters inspire and your generosity returns threefold. Cancer and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 11, 30, 5, 42 and 14.
St. Joseph’s coach Steve Donahue said following a win over Loyola Chicago on Saturday that his Hawks may not shoot well for all 40 minutes, but they would do everything else well.
The Hawks showed what could happen if they played a complete game against George Mason on Wednesday night at Hagan Arena.
St. Joe’s (18-10, 10-5 Atlantic 10) clicked on both ends of the floor, knocking down 11 three-pointers while forcing 11 turnovers in an 81-63 win over the Patriots. In a game to help decide which team receives a double-bye in next month’s A10 tournament, George Mason (21-7, 9-6) had no answers.
“We can be unstoppable, honestly,” said guard Derek Simpson. “I think the biggest part with us is being on the same page.”
Khaafiq Myers drives on George Mason’s Kory Mincy during the first half on Wednesday. Myers scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
Statistical leaders
St. Joe’s shot 51.6%, led by Simpson (23 points) and Jaiden Glover-Toscano (21). It is the second straight game the Hawks have had two players score 20 or more points.
The Hawks also limited the Patriots to 39.7% shooting. They trailed for just 36 seconds to send George Mason home with its fourth straight loss.
What we saw
The Hawks went down 2-0 in the first minute of the game and never trailed again.
With the game tied at 10, St. Joe’s guard Austin Williford drained a three-pointer to kickstart a 13-0 run, which included back-to-back threes from Glover-Toscano for a 23-10 lead with 11:09 left in the first half.
The Patriotsscored just 11 points in the first 11 minutes of the first half
“We want to get loose,” Simpson said. “I feel like we didn’t do that the last game. We weren’t able to get out and have fun. I feel like we slowed the pace a lot. We were dead in the legs and stuff like that. But today we said we weren’t going to do that.”
The Hawks went into halftime with a 44-25 lead after going on a 21-8 run over the final 8:48 of the first half.
George Mason didn’t fare much better in the second half.
The Hawks shot 51.7% from the floor in the second half. They used their pace to stifle the defense with 22 fastbreak points and got 15 points off turnovers.
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham watches St. Joe’s take on George Mason on Wednesday night.
Game-changing play
Playing in his second game since missing two, St, Joe’s guard Khaafiq Myers scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
George Mason trimmed the lead to 66-49 with 8:13 left in the game, but the Hawks were still looking for extra cushion. Myers helped, drilling a three with guard Devin Booker in his face and on the ensuing Patriots’ possession, he hauled in a defensive rebound and passed to Simpson for a dunkto go up 71-49 with 7:33 remaining.
“I thought [Myers] was terrific tonight, and that’s another thing,” Donahue said. “Our offense really needs someone to just push it and get somebody else an easy basket. He did that tonight.”
Up next
St. Joe’s will hit the road to face Rhode Island (15-12, 6-8) on Saturday (noon,ESPN+).
WASHINGTON ― It feels like it’s been 84 years since the Flyers last played an NHL game.
On Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals, they kicked off the final 26 games of the season. Entering the night, Philly sat four points back of Washington — with three games in hand — and eight points back of a playoff spot.
By the end of the night, the Flyers were six points back of Washington, after losing 3-1 at the Capital One Arena. They remain eight points back of the idle New York Islanders and Boston Bruins, and have a game in hand on the Islanders.
Trevor van Riemsdyk scored the decisive goal, giving the Capitals a 2-1 lead with 5 minutes, 52 seconds left in regulation. Off the rush, Declan Chisholm dropped the puck to Aliaksei Protas and got it back near the left post. He then hit van Riemsdyk, the brother of former Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk, as he crashed the net.
As coach Rick Tocchet noted postgame, the Flyers came out with some pep in their step to start the game. “The first nine minutes we were dominating,” he said. But they were unable to capitalize until the third period, when Noah Cates deflected a shot by Travis Sanheim 29 seconds in.
Rasmus Ristolainen applied pressure, creating a turnover to Matvei Michkov, who found Bobby Brink. The winger carried it down into the left face-off circle before hitting Sanheim for the quick shot, which Cates deflected past goalie Logan Thompson. Cates tied the game at one — and ended an 18-game goal drought.
“I didn’t like my January,” said Cates, whose last goal came Dec. 30. “I thought the team struggled as well, and I feel like when I struggle, the team struggles. You just want to get out of it and get going.
“So to get that goal and feel good about our line, we were making some plays and just playing the right way, playing how we can play with Bobby [Brink] and [Michkov]. So, yeah, good to get going.”
The trio had several other chances, notably in the third period when Brink, while under pressure, sent a cross-crease pass to Michkov alone at the right post. Thompson robbed him of a sure goal as he stretched across and made a toe save. According to Natural Stat Trick, when they were on the ice at five-on-five, the Flyers had 10 shot attempts, a game-high 1.05 expected Goals For, and nine scoring chances.
Philly did put 24 shots on Thompson, with 18 coming in the first two periods, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Dan Vladař kept them in the game all night.
The goaltender told The Inquirer on Sunday that he “wasn’t the best” in his one game at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, a 6-3 win against France, when he allowed the trio of goals on 12 shots for Czechia. So maybe he had something to prove.
Vladař faced seven shots in the first period, and robbed the owner of 919 NHL goals, Alex Ovechkin, of his 920th. “The Great 8″ was left wide-open in front after Ristolainen had the puck poked away from him in the corner by Dylan Strome, who fed Ovechkin. Vladař then stopped Strome’s point shot as Travis Konecny’s clearing attempt went right to him.
“He gives us a lot of confidence. He was making huge saves out there for us,” center Christian Dvorak said. “He’s been doing that all year, and it would have been nice to get him a win tonight. He definitely deserved it. He’s been big for us, and we just got to work on being better for our goalies.”
In the second period, the Capitals outshot the Flyers 12-9 and seemed to have the ice tilted their way. Although they broke through once — and missed the net a few more times — Vladař came up big again to keep the score close.
He stopped a point shot by Ethan Frank off a face-off win, kicked out a Ryan Leonard shot to the boards, and then seconds later made a masterful stop on another shot by Leonard.
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (bottom) was a bit shaken up after defenseman Nick Seeler (24) fell over him late in the second period.
Later, Vladař made a save on a Brandon Duhaime shot from nine feet out, and Nick Seeler pushed it back for him to cover. But there was a bit of a scramble, and Seeler fell over him, and the goalie seemed a bit stung. He flexed his right arm at the next whistle but stayed in the game.
Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin scored the Capitals’ opening goal in the period. Philly regrouped and reset after a three-on-two by Washington — and Michkov broke up a pass in front, but then allowed the blueliner to skate down from the point behind him. Hendrix Lapierre found him for the 1-0 goal.
And while he again allowed a goal in the third period, Vladař kept his team in the game. With the Flyers on the penalty kill, Pierre-Luc Dubois got the puck near the net and turned to take a shot, but Vladař was aggressive with the stick and poked it away. He was tracking the puck well all night and seconds later squared up to snare a Strome tip-in attempt on a point shot.
With the game tied, he robbed Lapierre, who got a return touch pass from Duhaime in the slot after the Flyers couldn’t break out of their own end.
“He’s a battler,” Tocchet said. “He’s done it all year for us. But the lateral goals are the tough ones; we don’t want to give those up. That’s the one thing. Vladdy’s played really well for us, but if we eliminate those that will really help. It’ll help Vladdy, too, [because] those laterals are tough to save.”
Protas added a short-handed empty-net goal with 25.6 seconds left in the game. … Defenseman Emil Andrae and forward Nic Deslauriers were the Flyers’ healthy scratches. What does Andrae, who hasn’t played since Jan. 26, need to do to get back into the lineup? “He’s not a PK guy,” said Tocchet pregame. “So actually, this week, he’s worked on his penalty killing. That’s really what it’s going to come down to.“ … Forward Carl Grundström, who has been playing wing all season, centered the fourth line. … The Flyers went 1-for-1 on the penalty kill and 0-for-2 on the power play.
Up next
The Flyers’ restart is already grinding away as they face the New York Rangers on Thursday at Madison Square Garden (8 p.m., ESPN).
Temple knew it had a tall task as it welcomed Rice, undefeated in the American Conference, to the Liacouras Center Wednesday night. When an eight-point run by the home Owls trimmed the visiting Owls’ lead to five points entering halftime, an upset felt possible.
But the deficit crept back to double digits by the end of the third quarter, and Rice (25-3, 15-0) ultimately stayed unblemished in the conference with a 77-66 victory over Temple (12-15, 6-9).
“It was a tough game today,” head coach Diane Richardson said. “I think we could have done better. I think we could have shown what talents we have. But again, without the consistency, we come up on the losing end.”
What we saw
Temple and Rice traded baskets throughout most of the first quarter before poor transition defense and a stagnant offense began to plague the home team in the second quarter. Rice used an 8-0 run to take a 13-point lead with four-and a-half minutes remaining before halftime. Rice center Shelby Hayes (19 points) and guard Dominique Ennis (21 points on 8 of 13 shooting) established themselves early for the visitors.
But Temple found momentum on both sides of the ball in the final minutes before halftime. It prevented Rice from getting the open looks it was getting in the first quarter and it found cleaner looks on offense. A 10-2 run sent Temple to halftime trailing 40-35. It shot 44.4% from the field and made all 10 of its free throw attempts in the first 20 minutes.
But Temple could not build on that momentum out of the locker room, and Rice began to pull away again. Temple committed six turnovers in the frame which allowed Rice to push its lead back into double digits. It struggled to find an answer and entered the fourth quarter trailing, 61-47.
Temple never made it competitive in the final 10 minutes, only getting as close as 11 points in the closing minutes.
“This is a talented team, but you can’t let a team take your superpowers from you,” Richardson said. “So we’ve got to build that confidence up.”
Temple head coach Diane Richardson lamented the Owls’ lack of consistency on Wednesday night.
Hayes dominates down low
When Temple and Rice played on Jan. 28, a 65-56 Rice win, Temple could not contain Hayes, who finished with 17 points on 7-10 shooting. Temple looked to have more success against Hayes on Wednesday, but to no avail.
Hayes routinely got behind her defender in the paint for easy layups, with her 19 points coming on 8-11 shooting. When Temple did stop Hayes down low, it required multiple defenders which then left shooters open beyond the arc for easy looks.
“One of the things in our adjustments was not overhelping,” Richardson said. “When they started to spread their offense and have the overload on [Hayes], we overhelped and then they could kick it out for a three.”
Rice was red-hot from the field and three, shooting 53.6% and 42.1%, respectively. The visitors finished with 24 assists on 30 made baskets.
Molina leads Temple’s statistical leaders
Temple did not have a bad shooting day, hitting 47.2% of its shots from the field, but went just 2 of 10 from three and committed 20 turnovers. Forward Jaleesa Molina paced Temple with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Kaylah Turner led Temple with 22 points on 10-18 shooting.
“They were switching on ball screens,” Molina said of her performance. “So I was just posting up my mismatch and that’s what it was.”
Next up
The Owls will hit the road to take on Alabama-Birmingham (10-16, 3-11) on Saturday (2 p.m., ESPN+).
INDIANAPOLIS — As soon as the 76ers boarded their flight following a brutal loss at the New Orleans Pelicans, the conversation turned serious.
“What do we want to do? What team do we want to be?” All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey recalled of the message. “… This is a defining moment in our season. It’s not make-or-break, but it’s time to go.”
What began as a woeful three-game road trip quickly flipped into a successful one. The Sixers snapped a four-game skid by pulling off an impressive victory at the Minnesota Timberwolves on the second night of a back-to-back, then took care of business against the shorthanded and tanking Indiana Pacers. Joel Embiid returned from what he called a stress reaction in his right leg against Indiana, totaling 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting, six rebounds, and five assists in an outing he said felt “OK.”
Yet the most encouraging development for the Sixers is that Maxey is officially humming again, after a rough shooting start out of the All-Star break. He totaled 39 points and eight assists against Minnesota, attacking immediately with his speed instead of overanalyzing schemes, coach Nick Nurse said. Maxey followed that by nearly amassing a 32-point triple-double (nine rebounds, eight assists) in three quarters of work, which was bolstered by Embiid’s presence.
“Amazing mental adjustment for him,” Nurse added of Maxey following that victory in Minneapolis. “To come in and have some tough games, and then just kind of know we really need him to have a great one, and he just does it.
“He plays like that, and then all of a sudden everybody else gets lifted, too. And that’s what great players are supposed to do.”
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey carried his team to an important victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Fueling that surge after the New Orleans disaster, Maxey said, were “encouraging words” he received from family back home, who told him there “ain’t no chance you’re going to let your team lose five in a row.” Teammate and close friend Trendon Watford also provided some tough love on that plane ride, saying, “Go help your team win a game, and do whatever it takes.”
The Sixers return home for one game against the Miami Heat while hanging on to the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings entering Wednesday (32-26). After that is a marquee showdown at the Boston Celtics, who sit second in the East and are arguably the NBA’s biggest surprise this season.
Until then, here are some snapshots from the road trip …
Tyrese and Ant Man
Dive into the video archives belonging to the mother of Maxey’s best friend, Chris Harris, and one would find footage of them playing against Edwards as fifth-graders.
“Short, chubby, strong,” Maxey said of Edwards back then. “And now, he’s that.”
Since then, Maxey and Edwards have coincidentally remained alongside each other during their journeys into NBA stardom.
They hung out “every single day” at the McDonald’s All American Game as high schoolers. They both played their one college basketball season in the SEC — Maxey at Kentucky, and Edwards at Georgia. They were selections in a strange 2020 draft, with Edwards going first overall and Maxey slipping to 21st. And earlier this month, their young Team Stars won the All-Star tournament. Edwards was the MVP of the event, while Maxey was prominently featured as the top American fan vote-getter.
“[He’s] a guy that I really appreciate talking to,” Maxey said of Edwards. “I appreciate his craft. I appreciate his story. We just kind of clicked.”
So when Maxey and Edwards faced off Sunday, it was all competitive love. Maxey said that when Edwards scored on him early and talked trash, “it kind of woke me up a little bit.” Then Maxey returned the favor by jamming the ball on Edwards — a player known for his thunderous dunks — and gave Edwards the mean mug.
“I didn’t know that he was going downhill,” Edwards told reporters after the game. “I just end up turning my head and I’m thinking he’s going to lay it up, and he punched it. It was a quick little dunk, too. I couldn’t even get a chance to block it.
“That’s why we play the game. I’m not mad at that.”
VJ Edgecombe has been better from three-point range than expected when the Sixers drafted him.
‘Three-J’ Edgecombe
VJ Edgecombe simply did not care — about his three-point shot, that is. If he got an open look against the Timberwolves, he let it fly.
“Thank God I wasn’t missing,” he said after the game.
The result was a career-high six makes on seven attempts, as part of a 24-point night for the Sixers’ standout rookie guard. He followed that up with a 23-point effort at Indiana, including a 2-of-4 mark from long range. Edgecombe entered Thursday shooting 36.4% on 5.7 three-point attempts per game, and has a knack for knocking down clutch deep shots (12-of-22 when a game is within five points with five minutes or less remaining).
“That’s a really great attitude to have,” Nurse said of Edgecombe’s “doesn’t care” approach. “That’s what he should do. Take rhythm shots. Take bailout ones when we need him at the end of the shot clock.”
That combination of confidence and results continues to make Edgecombe’s shooting — the biggest knock against his game before being drafted third overall — a pleasant surprise.
He shot 34% on 4.6 attempts during his one season at Baylor, although coach Scott Drew said that mark improved with a midseason form adjustment. Nurse called Edgecombe’s mechanics “pretty good” during the predraft process. And Edgecombe ignored such critics.
“The people saying I couldn’t shoot,” Edgecombe told The Inquirer from the locker room in Minneapolis, “are the people that are not playing basketball.”
Edgecombe credits the “countless reps” put in with assistant coach Rico Hines, from the summer until now. They achieved a higher arc on his shot. Now, he is working on making his release quicker and getting more comfortable launching off the dribble.
If minor details — such as the ball pickup before shooting — do not feel right, Edgecombe will repeat the repetition. They continue to drill “until I like the make, for real.”
When does that occur?
“All net,” he said. “Like a swish.”
The Sixers outscored the Pacers by 27 points in the 15 minutes Adem Bona spent on the floor.
Bona’s burst
Plus-minus is considered to be a flawed or incomplete stat. But reserve center Adem Bona was a plus-27 in less than 15 minutes against the Pacers, an insane metric that matched the eye test that identified the performance as one of his best of the season.
Bona made an across-the-box-score impact, with six points on 3-of-3 shooting, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. He was in the middle — literally and figuratively — of the Sixers’ second-quarter run to flip an eight-point deficit into a double-digit advantage, and the second-half surge to extend the lead to as many as 28 points.
“I just do what I do,” he said. “… Inject energy to the team, communicate, and just anchor the defense.
“I realized [my plus-minus] after the game. But that’s my goal whenever I step on the floor, to impact the team positively.”
The Timberwolves entered Sunday’s game undersized, with Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid both out. And when fill-in starter Joan Beringer got into foul trouble, Minnesota went small and then “super small,” as Nurse described.
The Sixers countered at the end of the first half with a three-guard lineup, plus the 6-foot-9 Dominick Barlow at center. Barlow also played that position for a stretch in New Orleans the previous night.
Sixers forward Dominick Barlow has taken shifts at center when teams go “super small.”
Barlow said Saturday that he still has not practiced at that spot much throughout this season, while elevating himself to a starting forward spot and having his two-way contract converted to a standard deal earlier this month. But Nurse sees potential for Barlow to be an offensive “hub” in the middle, because of his ability to handle the ball, roll, and back cut in the middle of the floor.
“I kind of just figured it out,” Barlow said, “and try to have that approach whatever position I’m playing.”
An off-day routine
The friendship between Nurse and Minnesota coach Chris Finch, who both cut their teeth in the British Basketball League and the NBA D-League (now G League), remains a popular topic whenever their teams match up. When asked Sunday if he spends more time watching Timberwolves games, Nurse acknowledged Finch’s team “probably gets double time, just to see what’s going on.”
So what is Nurse’s game-watching routine on nights the Sixers do not play?
He generally focuses on whichever teams the Sixers will face in the near future. He will keep track of other scores on an iPad. And when he notices another game is close in the final three minutes, he will flip over to catch the end.
As veteran guard Kyle Lowry grabbed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from the visitors’ locker room before Tuesday’s game in Indiana, teammate Cameron Payne asked for one, too. Lowry then complimented the bread, calling it perhaps the best he has had this season.
That meal so often associated with childhood is wildly popular across professional sports, either in traditional form or as a Smucker’s Uncrustable. So popular that ESPN published a 2017 feature on PB&J, calling the sandwich “the NBA’s secret addiction.”
But a question must accompany this culinary choice: Grape or strawberry jelly?
Payne and Barlow, who was sitting nearby during the exchange, chose grape. Lowry’s preference is strawberry.
Just before 7:30 a.m., the utility truck and passenger vehicle collided along I-295 northbound and overturned into the Hessian Run Tributary near West Deptford High School, officials said.
The occupants were transported to a hospital to be treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, officials said.
The wreckage caused a “significant leak” of fuel into the tributary, and that prompted a response from county hazmat crews to assist firefighters at the scene, officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection were also notified of the incident.
All road lanes closed for the emergency response were reopened by 1 p.m., officials said.
CLEARWATER, Fla. — If the idea had never been floated last year at Chicago Cubs camp that Brad Keller could make the switch from starting to relieving, his life today would probably look completely different.
“I was basically destined to go to Iowa and just be kind of a bulk starter down there and kind of see what happens,” he said. “Definitely a career changer.”
But instead of pitching for the Cubs’ triple-A affiliate in Des Moines, Keller tried out the bullpen. The switch revitalized his career, as he developed from journeyman starter to key reliever for a team in a playoff race, and then signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Phillies this winter to be a high-leverage arm.
Keller pitched the first inning of a Phillies bullpen game on Wednesday, a 5-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. He needed just 11 pitches to retire the side in order.
“It was good to get in there and face hitters, get in front of the stadium instead of just the live backfields and stuff like that. So it was good. Felt good,” Keller said.
Keller’s fastball jumped from 93.7 mph in 2024 to 97.1 mph last season after his move to the bullpen. In his first Grapefruit League outing, he blew two fastballs by Colt Keith clocking 97.3 mph and 96.9 mph to strike him out swinging.
“High velocity, and the slider was really good,” said manager Rob Thomson. “He looked great.”
Rather than paring down his starter’s arsenal when he made the switch to the bullpen, Keller actually added a pitch — a sweeper. He typically uses it as a weapon against righties, throwing one Wednesday to Gleyber Torres that he fouled off, before getting him to ground out on his sinker.
Keller, who will join Team USA to prepare for the World Baseball Classic on Saturday, said he always knew he had the potential for higher velocity.
“I knew it was always in there,” he said. “It’s just my mentality was always starting. I started my whole career, minor leagues and most of the big leagues. And so I just never really reached back for anything. Last year was a little bit of a surprise, because I feel like I didn’t ever have to reach back. It was just there, which was nice.”
Who stood out
Edmundo Sosa hit a ground-rule double to left field in the third inning.
Alec Bohm made a nice play on a sharply hit ground ball at third base, and turned a double play to end the top of the fourth. Bohm finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
“He’s in really good shape this year, and he’s a little bit stronger. He’s done a lot of work, so he’s ready for this,” Thomson said. “He’s been swinging the bat well and hitting the ball the other way. I thought our at-bats today were good.”
Otto Kemp hit a home run onto the center-field berm, and Bryce Harper doubled to right to drive in a run in the fifth inning.
Justin Crawford also made a big defensive play, leaping to catch a deep fly ball from Matt Vierling on the center-field warning track.
On the mound
Following Keller, Zach Pop, Kyle Backhus, Zach McCambley, Tim Mayza, Trevor Richards, and Génesis Cabrera each pitched an inning. Those six are competing for the final two bullpen spots.
Pop, Backhus, and Richards each sidestepped a single for a scoreless frame. McCambley allowed a run on a walk and two straight singles, but induced a double play to escape the jam. A run scored on Mayza after two singles put runners on the corners and a wild pitch went to the backstop.
Cabrera tossed a 1-2-3 seventh.
Phillies shortstop Edmundo Sosa celebrates after hitting a ground-rule double during the third inning against the Tigers on Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla.
Injury check
Infield prospect Aidan Miller (sore back) has continued to get treatment and has begun to ramp up in the weight room. The Phillies are being cautious with him and do not have a timeline for when he will start swinging a bat.
Outfielder Brandon Marsh jammed his hand during sliding drills on Tuesday and has some inflammation and soreness. To be cautious, Thomson said Marsh likely won’t play until after Monday’s off day.
“He’s been throwing strikes and the slider’s good,” Thomson said of Pop. “He’s got a bowling ball fastball, heavy sink to it. It’s a mid-90s fastball. He’s throwing the ball well. Backhus, again, threw the ball well today. So yeah, we’re going to have some tough decisions at the end of this thing.”
On deck
The Phillies host the Nationals at 1:05 p.m. Thursday at BayCare Ballpark, with Taijuan Walker set to start.
