SI.com’s Top 100 rankings continue with Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington cracking the top half.
Robert Covington has taken a lot of heat this summer. Following his postseason struggles against the Celtics, some fans questioned his ability to start. Others questioned his value as an NBA player, with the most extreme groups calling for a permanent move to the bench.
There’s one problem with that — Covington is arguably the third-best player on the Philadelphia 76ers‘ roster.
In a league that stresses versatility to the highest degree, Covington’s defensive value can’t be understated. He was an All-Defense first teamer last season, and it was well deserved. There’s an abundance of two-way wings in the NBA, but Covington led the pack.
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That, combined with his 36.9 percent three-point clip, was enough for SI.com’s The Crossover to rank Covington 48th in their Top 100. He joins J.J. Redick (62) and Dario Saric (54) as Sixers already named in the 31-100 range.
Covington is legitimately among the best defenders in the NBA, full stop. His on-ball defense is average, but he makes up for that with impressive displays of length and instincts off the ball. His ability to slither into passing lanes, reject shots on the weak side and rack up deflections was a driving force behind an elite Sixers defense last season.
Here’s a quick blurb from SI’s Ben Golliver:
"Covington (12.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.7 SPG) warps around the court like a podcast played at double speed, he relishes contact like a middle linebacker, and he shadows scorers feint-for-feint like a professional dancer. With a full season of good health and team success to his name, the 27-year-old Sixers forward has solidified himself as the NBA’s premier 3-and-D wing. His 2018 All-Defensive First Team selection was a no-brainer, as he ranked first in deflections, third in Defensive Real-Plus Minus, fifth in Defensive Win Shares and sixth in steals for the NBA’s third-best defense."
It’s worth noting that Golliver dubbed Covington the premier 3-and-D wing in the NBA. Not a premier 3-and-D wing, the premier 3-and-D wing.
There are plenty of talented defenders, but seldom do they shoot the ball with Covington’s proficiency. Andre Roberson comes to mind as an elite, if not better, defender, but someone whose offensive impact is marginal at best.
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard represent the league’s elite, but Covington thrives in his role as a complementary piece. That’s why he’s locked into the Sixers’ starting lineup long term, and any trade involving Covington would necessitate a considerable package in return.
As is the case with any player, there are flaws in Covington’s arsenal. His limited handles and inability to self-create makes him notoriously streaky on the offensive end. The issue isn’t his inconsistent shooting — he hit above the league average from deep — it’s that he can’t find ways to contribute when his spot-up jumpers aren’t falling.
If Covington can become more reliable handling in straight-line drives, thus allowing him to attack closeouts, his value might jump up even more. He’d add a much-needed dynamic to a Sixers offense that lacked dribble penetration last season.
As a 27-year-old entering his prime years, Covington should be locked into the top 50 — or at least that general vicinity — for the next few seasons. He’s as important as anybody on the Sixers roster outside Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and potentially Markelle Fultz.
On that note, expect both Embiid and Simmons to crack The Crossover’s top 30, as neither has been revealed yet. That would place Simmons ahead of Donovan Mitchell (34) and Jayson Tatum (39) entering the 2018-19 season.