Philadelphia 76ers: 15 players who defined ‘The Process’
![Nerlens Noel & Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) Nerlens Noel & Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9f7dda5d0a436276a7b96eb7a2e85f89778bc8a9e1840c333ba877039e5ae2e0.jpg)
player. 93. . PF/C. (2015-18). Richaun Holmes. 14
Richaun Holmes spent three seasons with the Sixers after joining the team via second-round draft pick in 2015. He ended up being the best big man drafted by Philadelphia that offseason, eventually emerging as a more viable NBA prospect than the now-infamous Jahlil Okafor.
Like most fringe NBA talent during the process years, Holmes got a chance to play meaningful minutes right away. He was stuffed behind a loaded frontcourt that featured both Okafor and Nerlens Noel, but he still managed 13.2 minutes per game in his rookie season.
That number jumped up to 20.9 in 2016-17, with Holmes emerging as Joel Embiid’s most effective backup that season. He would also start 17 games that season, filling in for the often-injured Embiid.
Averaging 9.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in year two, it seemed as though Holmes was working his way into the Sixers’ long-term plans. His defensive shortcomings caught up to him last season, though, as he registered several DNP-CDs in the Sixers’ first competitive season.
With that said, Holmes remains an important second-round pick who played during the Sixers’ 10-win season. He was given the opportunity to carve out a role in Brett Brown’s system — and, at times, he did carve out a role — but things inevitably went downhill.
Now Holmes enters the 2018-19 season as a member of the Phoenix Suns following a trade this offseason. He will join fellow Process-er Isaiah Canaan in the purple and orange.