Head Coach Brett Brown loved the potential of JaKarr Sampson. But the legacy of JaKarr Sampson is not meaningless. It gives Brown the perfect template to integrate either Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram.
His name was JaKarr Sampson.
He is a 6’9″ versatile wing with a 6’11” wing span who won over head coach Brett Brown. He arrived to the Philadelphia 76ers to start the 2014-2015 season, another one of Sam Hinkie’s undrafted “finds”. The rookie forward came from St. John’s, with Sampson becoming one of the Sixers’ most pleasant surprises for that year. That was the year the team had to await the return to health of Joel Embiid and the return to the US by Dario Saric.
More from Draft
- Philadelphia 76ers Ten Biggest Mistakes of the Last Ten Years
- The Sixers sign four undrafted players after the NBA Draft
- Players the Sixers should target in undrafted free agency
- How to Watch the 2023 NBA Draft as a Sixers Fan
- 2023 NBA Mock Draft: 5 wing prospects 76ers could target
Sampson was here and healthy and filled one of the vacant roster spots.
But he quickly demonstrated to the team that he could be a versatile guard who could develop a three-point shot. Despite arriving undrafted, he immediately won over the Sixers’ coaching staff with his defense and willingness to do anything.
Sampson played point guard, shooting guard and small forward in his rookie season. Notably, Sampson showed potential at point guard where his 6-foot-9, 220 pound frame was an asset on defense. He could deliver rebounds, and his versatility camouflaged the raw state of his talents.
His spirit was indominatable, a point that caught the eye of his head coach Brett Brown who spoke of the young man with reverance:
"“[He]JaKarr stands out. You look at the multiple positions he has played. And he comes with a tremendous spirit.” — Brett Brown, April 16, 2015"
In the most unkind twists of fate, it was JaKarr Sampson who was cut to make room for the anticipated arrival of Joel Anthony in a trade intended to absorb cap space for the price of a draft pick. That trade never happened, and the future of JaKarr Sampson was claimed by the Denver Nuggets.
The Philadelphia 76ers are waiving JaKarr Sampson, league sources tell @TheVertical. The Sixers needed to create spot for Joel Anthony.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 18, 2016
In short, the team never had the chance to make use of the unique versatility of Sampson. But then a funny thing happened…
Next: Ingram Is the Perfect Chapter II to Sampson's Chapter I