The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers Rookie Report: Rough start to season

By Lucas Johnson

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 18: Landry Shamet #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a three point basket against the Chicago Bulls on October 18, 2018 at the 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 18: Landry Shamet #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a three point basket against the Chicago Bulls on October 18, 2018 at the 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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It’s important for Philadelphia 76ers fans to keep up with story lines and the development of the team’s rookies throughout the season.

It’s early in the regular season and players like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz and J.J. Redick are the big name players that everyone gravitates to whenever the Philadelphia 76ers are mentioned, but other players deserve to be recognized as well. Rookies in particular should be of interest for fans seeing as they are the future of the franchise. This will be the first installment of The Sixer Sense‘s Rookie Report, which will be premiering every Friday.

Zhaire Smith

Sadly, the 16th pick of the 2018 NBA Draft has yet to make his debut for the Sixers this season. There’s been no recent update on Smith’s projected return to rotation after injuring his foot during the offseason. The only timeline given was reported by Keith Pompey of philly.com during the Sixers training camp in which he reported that the month of December is when Smith’s suppose to make his rookie debut (will need to pay to read the article linked in the tweet that’s hyperlinked).

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Landry Shamet

Shamet has been the lone rookie that head coach Brett Brown has relied upon early in this season. In the first five games during the season, the late first round pick has averaged 4.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist, while 29.2 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the 3-point line. Shamet’s best game thus far came against the Chicago Bulls where he had 12 points, four rebounds, one assist and two steals, while shooting 4-7 from behind the arc.

He even drew a start when Ben Simmons was down with injury. Sadly, he didn’t capitalize on that start. He had five points and two assists, while only shooting 25 percent from downtown. Due to Shamet’s potential as a floor spacer, fans should expect to continue to see the combo guard in Brown’s rotation moving forward.

Jonah Bolden

Bolden has been riding the bench thus fair during the regular season and only seeing floor time at the end of blowouts. Besides missing a 3-point attempt and picking up one foul, he hasn’t had enough time on the floor to do anything. It should be noted that Embiid is questionable for the Sixers upcoming game against the Charlotte Hornets and if he misses the contest, then it could mean more minutes for the 2017 second round pick.

Shake Milton

As a player on a two-way contract, Milton has been at Philadelphia’s G-League affiliate’s training camp. Unless injuries decimate the Sixers back court rotation, fans will have to go see a Delaware Blue Coats game to see the late second round pick play. Milton’s development in the G-League is something that fans should closely monitor.

Sixers might still get in on the Butler trade talks. dark. Next

That concludes the Philadelphia 76ers Rookie Report for this past week-plus. Some rookies have brighter outlooks than others at the current moment, however the NBA season is long and full of twist and turns. The projection of these players’ seasons can change very quickly.