All of a sudden, Philadelphia 76ers fans bore witness to one of the most unexpected reunions yet among the team’s former players. Jeff Dowtin, who spent the last two seasons with the team on a two-way contract, has made the jump to Europe, reportedly inking a new deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv ahead of the 2025-26 circuit.
The move reunites Dowtin with former 76ers players Lonnie Walker IV and Oshae Brissett. The former spent the latter half of the season with the team in the previous campaign while the latter suited up for six games for Philly last season.
Going overseas is probably the best thing for Dowtin at this point in his career. He recently turned 28 and is at the peak of his powers, but consistent opportunities in the NBA have become elusive for him, having appeared in only 87 total outings across his four-year career in the league.
Jeff Dowtin reunites with former 76ers players in Europe
Last season, Dowtin saw the most NBA action he’s had in his career, getting his number called and seeing the hardwood in 41 total games, even starting thrice. He logged 15.1 minutes on the average, yielding steady numbers on a nightly basis to the tune of seven points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per outing while shooting 48.7 percent from the field, including 40 percent from three-point range.
He has seemed like a good third-string point guard, but despite his progress in both the NBA and in the G-League, the 76ers were never going to have an opening for him given their loaded backcourt rotation which boasts the likes of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Jared McCain alongside veterans Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry.
Thus, it is probably for the best that the 76ers did not pursue him anymore. Likewise, moving to the Euroleague, where he will most certainly have ample opportunity to showcase his game, could even turn out to be a much better boost to his portfolio as a pro.
To make things even sweeter, he will greatly benefit from having a couple of familiar faces accompany him overseas.
His stint with the franchise may have been short-lived and admittedly unremarkable, but it definitely feels good that Jeff Dowtin, Lonnie Walker, and Oshae Brissett will be bringing that Philadelphia 76ers connection abroad. Hopefully, it ends up being an asset for their new ball club and more importantly, for their individual careers.