The Sixer Sense
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Ranking every player on the Sixers’ 2021-22 roster

By Christopher Kline

Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Sixers Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Sixers Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia 76ers
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Ranking every player on the Sixers roster — 15. Charles Bassey

The Sixers selected Charles Bassey 53rd overall in July’s NBA Draft, then — after a long and confounding contract dispute — signed a three-year, partially guaranteed rookie contract to occupy the team’s 15th roster spot. He’s now the fourth-string center in theory, behind Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond, and Paul Reed.

Of course, the backup centers are uniquely important in Philadelphia. Joel Embiid is a lock to miss some portion of games this season, meaning Bassey will move up the depth chart from time to time. His opportunities will still be limited, and he will likely spend a lot of time in Delaware, but there’s reason to believe Bassey will get his plate appearances as the season progresses.

A towering 6-foot-10 center with broad shoulders, a 7-foot-3 wingspan, and top-shelf athleticism, there is no doubting Bassey’s raw physical tools. He was once a top-five high school recruit, but three rocky seasons at Western Kentucky have dulled some of the excitement around his NBA prospects. Even so, many believed Bassey should have gone higher than No. 53, and he brings atypical upside for a second-round pick.

Bassey has shown quite a bit of potential on the defensive end, averaging 3.1 blocks per game and winning Conference USA Player of the Year as a junior. That should translate to the NBA, with the obvious caveats tied to any young center: he will need to sharpen his fundamentals and avoid foul trouble. It’s hard to be the centerpiece of an NBA defense.

The offensive potential for Bassey is a bit hazier. He has clear physical prowess and should have no trouble carving out space and finishing at the rim. That said, his decision-making and overall skill set are still underdeveloped. He has shown flashes of 3-point shooting, but until it’s a regular part of his repertoire in NBA games, it will be fair to question the extent to which Bassey can contribute.