The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Robert Covington leads Philadelphia 76ers by example

By Rusty Gorelick

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 20: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers arrives before the game against the Boston Celtics on October 20, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 20: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers arrives before the game against the Boston Celtics on October 20, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers have had their highs and lows thus far, but there has been one constant: Robert Covington. The wing has become a true leader.

Robert Covington, the longest-tenured Sixer, has done a little bit of everything for his team this year. He represents the team before each game in the captains’ huddle, but his leadership role has been much more than just a ceremonial pre-game routine this season.

Covington is not vocal or flashy, which gets him massive amounts of respect from those who notice him. The 26-year-old small forward saw the worst years of the Process: Sam Hinkie signed him in November of 2014, also known as year two of the Process.

Covington’s individual stats have gone up and down through the years, but his general performances have vastly improved since he got to Philly. In his first year as a Sixer, Cov averaged 13.5 points on 37.4 percent shooting from three-point range. His scoring averages dipped slightly in 2015-16 and 2016-17, but his 3-point percentage stayed around the 39 percent mark.

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In 11 games this season, RoCo has averaged a stellar 16.1 points on 50 percent shooting from long range. His exemplary improvement is worthy of team captaincy and the young Sixers should try as hard as they can to emulate his work ethic.

Sure, the Tennessee State product scores frequently for the Philadelphia 76ers, but his defense makes him a true leader. In his career in Philly, he averages 1.6 steals per game, but that does not come close to telling the whole story.

This season, he sits at third place in deflections per game with 3.6. Last season, he led the league with 4.2 per game. That stat helped him finish fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting at the end of last season. Despite that, media voters snubbed him for a place on either of the two All-Defense teams, which shows how he constantly flies under the radar.

This season, Covington has come through with huge performances when his team needs him most. On opening night, he hung 29 points on the Washington Wizards, but in the games that followed, he disappointed. He didn’t let that get to him, though: he came back a week later and put up 20 on the Rockets in a one-point loss at the buzzer. His game-by-game scoring goes up and down, but even if he doesn’t blow up the scoring column each game, he always contributes somehow.

In an important win on Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers, Covington played spectacularly. He poured in 31 points off of 12 shots on 75 percent shooting, shot 100 percent from the free throw line, and had six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. He also guarded everyone, from Blake Griffin to Austin Rivers. It was a typical RoCo performance, but his efforts were magnified on the stat sheet, which doesn’t always happen for him. He benefitted from the Sixers’ Spurs-like ball movement.

He flaunted his leadership qualities against the Clippers: he played efficiently, he shared the ball effectively, he played great defense against four positions, and he had the least turnovers of any starter with two. Covington exemplifies what the leader of the Philadelphia 76ers should be.

Next: Covington is an elite role player

He is less serious than Ben Simmons but more level-headed than Joel Embiid, has played through the hardest times of the Process, defends any opponent with confidence, and doesn’t take stupid shots. At 26-years-old, the wing is growing into both a star and a leader, and Sixers fans will be hoping that his contract extension comes a lot sooner than later.