Episode II
LOCO FOR ROCO
In his early years, Sam Hinkie needed as much help building a losing roster as Joel Embiid needs a lesson social media trash talk. He was handing out 10-day contracts like Halloween candy as the Sixers were in rebuilding mode. One of the Process players who rose from the ashes of the undrafted was Robert Covington.
RoCo was a decent college player out of Tennessee State. His senior year he averaged 17 points and eight rebounds a game. His defensive stats were impressive as well. Just not enough to get called on stage to shake the commissioner’s hand on draft night.
Covington would get a shot on the Rockets in 2013, where he did not produce much. With Sam Hinkie in Philadelphia, he would make an impression enough to earn minutes on the Sixers. Nobody knew he would build a solid career from the Process.
A four-year contract and $62 million later, Robert Covington became a starter for the Sixers alongside stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. His defensive mindset and three-point shooting is what got him in the door and allowed him to stay. Many NBA experts would eventually drool over Covington’s deflection rate and steals production. He did turn himself into a sound defender with a reliable three point shot.
After heightening his status and appearing in the playoffs for the 76ers, Covington brought enough value for him to be included in a trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Dario Saric and a second-round pick for Jimmy Butler, Justin Patton, and Jerryd Bayless. Like the next Process Sixer, Robert Covington took advantage of Sam Hinkie’s plan for the future.