Sixers: 5 studs, 3 duds from first few weeks

One Sixers stud from first few weeks: Seth Curry

Evan as Seth Curry “comes back down to earth,” his season averages are nothing short of revelatory. He’s pouring in a career-high 16.7 points per game on .561/.476/.917 shooting splits. On top of his red-hot shooting, Curry is doing more as a playmaker and a three-level scorer, beating closeouts and scoring with flare inside the arc, as well as beyond it.

Curry has been far and away the second most important Sixer after Joel Embiid this season, with Tyrese Maxey‘s recent surge the only real threat to that crown. Curry has taken what appears to be “the leap” in his age 31 season, becoming one of the most dynamic and impactful role players in the NBA. He is a true star in his role.

There’s a good chance Curry’s shooting continues to cool to something closer to his career averages. That said, his 5.3 attempts per game from deep marks a career high, and he’s being much more aggressive in seeking out his own offense. Even if the percentages suffer slightly, that aggression — paired with Curry’s inherent gravity — makes him significantly harder to defend.

Also, Curry’s recent slump (if you can call it a slump) has not-so-surprisingly coincided with Joel Embiid’s absence. Very few players can play off one another better than Embiid and Curry. That dynamic is the lifeblood of Philadelphia’s offense, and the big fella’s eventual return will help elevate Curry’s star once more.

Simply put, Curry looks great. He’s doing more than ever before, and even after some down shooting nights, is hitting 47.6 percent of his 3s on the young season. That’s absurd, and speaks to Curry’s scarcely rivaled proficiency behind the 3-point line.