The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach Brett Brown Knows Tall PGs Can Work In NBA

By Bret Stuter

Apr 15, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard JaKarr Sampson (9) attempts to shoot past Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem (40) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard JaKarr Sampson (9) attempts to shoot past Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem (40) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 16, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard JaKarr Sampson (9) pleads to referee Mark Lindsay (29) for a foul call against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard JaKarr Sampson (9) pleads to referee Mark Lindsay (29) for a foul call against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Nothing Lasts Forever, But Memories

The next season, Jakarr Sampson found himself fighting for playing time.   But he had the confidence earned by trial and success.  He was hurled into the point guard role in a “last man standing” situation, and actually did not play as poorly as many feared he might.

In fact, he endeared himself to this head coach. But it was only a matter of time before the Philadelphia 76ers needed Sampson’s roster spot to eat salary cap space and land another second round pick. So the team waived Jakarr Sampson. Ironically, the trade never went through, and the 76ers lost Jakarr Sampson to the Denver Nuggets.

Waive Goodbye Jakarr

In the aftermath,  the Denver Nuggets waived Jakarr Sampson in October 2016. A player many saw as versatile and an emerging talent did not last a full season beyond the tutelage of head coach Brett Brown. Just make note of that point for future reference.

So we learned something. Big men can play PG for Brett Brown. Big man who played PG for Brown fails at next NBA team.

Now, lets carry this lesson back with us to the present.