Ranking 25-and-under Sixers — 6. Jaden Springer
Jaden Springer is the youngest player on the Sixers’ roster. He played a grand total of six NBA minutes last season, spending most of his time in the G-League and with Philly’s player development staff. The Sixers’ improved depth has only made it harder for Springer to climb the ladder, so don’t except to see him much in year two either.
That said, there’s reason to believe in Springer long-term. He was the youngest player drafted in 2021, so it’s not like the Sixers were expecting a ready-made contributor. It was always going to take time, and the glowing reports from training camp suggest that Springer is starting to make waves within the organization.
At 6-foot-3, Springer is more wing than guard right now. But he can defend the heck out of the ball, which is the root of his value at the professional level. Apparently Spencer Rivers has dubbed him “unscreenable.” Springer is strong for his size, with excellent lateral mobility and a real nose for the ball. His ability to hound the point of attack and make quick recoveries (as indicated by his abnormally high block rate) provide the basis for NBA longevity.
For Springer, it will all come down to his offensive development. Right now — to state it bluntly — Springer has no discernible role within the offense. He can’t really dribble or shoot. He can rumble downhill in transition and finish with power around the rim, but he doesn’t get much elevation and is therefore prone to getting blocked by better NBA rim protectors. Springer is a generally smart and heady player, but he has to improve his skill level in order to make it on offense. If he can discover his role and improve his 3-point shot over time, then Springer should have a lengthy NBA career.