Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking every player on the roster (April 2020)
14. Norvel Pelle
PRESEASON RANKING: 17
Norvel Pelle started the season as a 25-year-old rookie on a two-way contract. He played center — a position Joel Embiid and Al Horford already inhabited — and outside of Summer League, his exposure to NBA fans was minimal. It’s safe there were no strong feelings on Pelle as a prospect before the season.
He has since earned quite a few fans. While not a perfect player by any stretch, Pelle has carved out a clear NBA role and a path forward in his career. The uber-athletic shot blocker is the basketball equivalent of lightning in a bottle — bursting at the seems with energy.
Pelle can outleap just about anyone. His instincts match up to his athleticism, which makes Pelle one of the best shot blockers people outside of Philadelphia have never heard of. He’s prone to foul trouble the same as most young big men, but his effort level alone is enough to yield a positive impact some nights.
The offensive end is less developed for Pelle. He’s an efficient finisher inside and a dynamic lob threat — which pairs nicely next to Ben Simmons — but on the whole, Pelle is fairly one-dimensional. He can’t shoot, he’s not particularly nimble on the perimeter, and he’s not one to make advanced passes.
Philadelphia doesn’t have a ton of room for third-string centers, and Kyle O’Quinn is still firmly on Brett Brown’s radar. Nonetheless, Pelle has earned a full NBA contract and there’s a good chance he sticks in Philadelphia for at least one more season. All things considered, that’s a major success.