Robert Covington is the definition of the Process for the 76ers
By Peter Manfre
When the Philadelphia 76ers began “The Process,” they signed or traded for unknown players with the potential to be something. Players such as Robert Covington.
When people think of “The Process” they think of Joel Embiid. They think of the top five picks in the draft they have had over the years. People are reminded of the injury ridden rookies who missed months to a full year.
The lackluster performances on the court or the veterans being traded for endless second round draft selections comes to mind too.
Philadelphia 76ers
No one thinks of Covington — but they should.
What makes the Sixers is not the number one overall selections. It is the team as a whole. By going through the process, the franchise has built a complete roster from stars to impact players.
Covington has been a fighter his whole career.
After going undrafted in 2013, he signed on with the Houston Rockets Summer League team where he played his way into a multi-year contract with the franchise.
During his first and only D-League season, the former Tennessee State star was named D-League rookie of the year. That led to Nov. 1, 2014, the day Covington became the true definition of the process. On that day, Covington was the first overall selection in the 2014 NBA developmental league draft by the Grand Rapids Drive. Okay, so maybe it is about the top selections.
Two weeks after signing with the Rapids, Covington was signed onto the bottom feeding 2014 76ers squad.
With the team needing just about anyone to suit up, Covington got his shot. He worked to get into the NBA and has worked to stay. Each year improving and growing. None of that would have been possible on any other NBA franchise. His lows are pretty awful.
In the time he has been on the 76ers, Covington has continued to improve as a 3-and-D player. Such is evident in games like Feb. 2, 2015, a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in which Covington recorded seven steals.
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The growth of Covington has turned him into a very valuable NBA player.
Last season was Covington’s coming out party in Philadelphia on a few different levels. With so much attention on number one overall selection Ben Simmons and his injury, it was vital for Covington to hold his own.
Covington is admittedly a streaky shooter, and has more growth to go in that category — as evident by his thirty-three percent shooting percentage from behind the arc.
Last season, Covington hit elite territory on defense.
There were four NBA players last season to average 1.5-plus steals per game and 1.0-plus blocks per game. Those players? Two-time defensive player of the year Draymond Green, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andre Drummond, and yes, Robert Covington.
Covington led the entire NBA in deflections per game. Respectively, Covington finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year votes last season.
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He has a role.
Sure, he still needs to work to do offensively. Thankfully, he can finally be a full three-and-D player this year as offensive help has come. Covington can not create very well for himself on the offensive end and is best served as a spot up shooter.
With Simmons, Fultz, Embiid and the newly signed J.J. Reddick, that is exactly the role Covington can play. Now, Covington can sit in the wings awaiting a kick out from a driving Simmons. He can float around the corners for Embiid to pass out of the post to.
He can finally play his role.
The Process has been many things over the last few years, but to its core it has been about finding talent that no one else had and allowing it to blossom. Covington found the perfect situation in Philadelphia.
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With other players being hurt, he fought for minutes. Covington may not be a superstar, and he is not a top flight draft pick, but he is what the Philadelphia 76ers were looking for when they started this process years ago.