Philadelphia 76ers Player Rankings: Rookies stepping up

Jonah Bolden (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Jonah Bolden (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
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Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers, J.J. Redick (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

3. J.J. Redick

January Stats: GP 13| MINS 32.3| FG% 46.3| 3P% 42.2| FT% 88.4| TRB 1.8| AST 2.5| BKL 0.2| STL 0.7| PF 1.0| TOV 1.5| PTS 19.2

Previous ranking: 4th

After a slow start to the season, Redick came into full form in January. His scoring and 3-point shooting was not on point all season prior to January. He scored at least 20 points in a game seven times to begin the new year. He also shot at least 40.0 percent from the 3-point line in eight games during January as well. To think that Redick is just a glorified floor spacer for the Sixers would be a big mistake, he’s an efficient scorer as well.

2. Ben Simmons

December Stats: GP 15| MINS 33.5| FG% 56.4| 3P% 0.0| FT% 57.9| TRB 9.9| AST 8.7| BKL 0.8| STL 1.2| PF 2.3| TOV 3.7| PTS 18.9

Previous ranking: 1st

More from The Sixer Sense

January saw a new level of offensive aggressiveness from the Sixers point guard. Simmons attempted 13.5 shots a game in the beginning of the new year, which is a season high. He scored at least 20 points in eight games during the month. He also had five double-doubles and three triple-doubles in January. Simmons’ assertiveness on offense was a welcomed sight in January and it was good to see that he could still be aggressive while producing a high level of assists.

1. Joel Embiid

December Stats: GP 13| MINS 32.2| FG% 48.8| 3P% 34.6| FT% 80.4| TRB 13.8| AST 3.8| BKL 2.0| STL 0.8| PF 3.3| TOV 4.2| PTS 29.2

Previous ranking: 2nd

After having an off December and being second in that month’s Player Rankings, Embiid had a bounce back month in January. There was only one game where he didn’t have a double-double in the whole month.

His lowest scoring game was for the month was in the Sixers first matchup against the Wizards where he had 20 points. Embiid’s highest scoring game of the month was a 42 point outing against the Phoenix Suns. Not only is he the best player on this team, but one of the best in the entire NBA.

The Philadelphia 76ers got a big boost from rookies Bolden and Shamet in the month of January. Now that the trade deadline is past in February, it’s unlikely that the Sixers will get a similar boost from the team’s first year players. Agree with the rankings, comment below if not.