Kelly Oubre Jr. is no stranger to trade rumors, but he's glad that after an offseason full of them, he's still with the Philadelphia Sixers. At the Philadelphia Sixers' Media Day on Friday, he discussed his excitement for the upcoming season and what it means to him to be part of it. He wanted to stay in Philadelphia, and he got his wish.
A few weeks ago, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported trade speculation surrounding Oubre and Andre Drummond, saying that trading either player would give the Sixers more flexibility to re-sign Quentin Grimes. Oubre responded to the trade rumors on social media, writing that he loves Philly, but didn't feel that love was reciprocated from fans (specifically from fan pages).
Oubre discussed his post on Friday, stating that he wouldn't apologize for what he said, but he made it clear that he wants to be with the Sixers. He said, "I wear this jersey for a reason, it's because I want to." Oubre is "all-in."
Kelly Oubre Jr. wanted to stay with the Sixers this offseason
Oubre has dealt with wrist issues over the past few years, but he said he worked with a physical therapist this summer to regain range of motion. He feels confident about where he is now.
One of the main gripes from fans about Oubre's game is his shooting, which, in theory, should improve this season after the work he put in over the summer. He shot 31.1% from three in his first season with the Sixers, and that percentage dropped to 29.3% this past season. Don't expect Oubre to turn into Steph Curry, but it sounds like he'll be better in that category.
His game will do the talking, but it's nice to know that Oubre is feeling well entering what will be a pivotal season for not only himself, but for Philadelphia. Based on what he said, there's nowhere else he'd rather be, and that says a lot, especially after the disappointment of last season. Oubre is excited to change the narrative.
There has been a lot of discussion about players like Joel Embiid and Paul George, and rightfully so, but Oubre can be a difference-maker, too. Hopefully, he'll carry the same energy he had on Friday into the preseason and regular season. If how he spoke was any indication, that'll be the case.