Considering that he started the season as a leading candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award, Quentin Grimes' offensive efficiency has taken a concerning nosedive. The most worrying aspect of these performances is that he is now negatively impacting the Philadelphia 76ers' ability to carry over momentum into the minutes when his star teammates, such as Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, are taking a much-needed rest on the bench.
After arriving from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Caleb Martin and a second-round pick, Grimes took little time to showcase exactly what his former employers were missing with a string of stunning performances. The 25-year-old averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, with a career-high 46 points coming in a 144-137 overtime defeat at the hands of the Houston Rockets.
It appeared that this devastating offensive form would continue into the 2025-26 season, as his impact from the bench proved to be an essential weapon in the Sixers' arsenal. Over the first two months of the season (October and November), Grimes recorded 17.1 points and 4.1 assists per game, playing in a less prominent attacking role than in the previous campaign.
As the season has rolled on, Grimes' performances have begun to stutter, and his offensive displays are not mirroring the lofty expectations that his earlier brilliant showing created for himself.
Grimes' shooting woes are an issue that Philadelphia did not predict
After hounding Grimes for his signature over the offseason, general manager Daryl Morey must have perceived the Mavericks guard as the final piece of this expertly difficult 76ers puzzle. Despite this vision playing out perfectly in the opening stages of the season, Morey may now be contemplating whether his effort should have been spent on strengthening other areas of the roster.
Every athlete throughout the sporting universe will hit patches of their career where their confidence dips and they second-guess every decision they make. Grimes has stumbled into said patch and is floundering with no evidence that this shooting slump is ending soon.
Grimes has turned in some rough showings in recent weeks, but none that have hindered the 76ers' ability to overcome their opponents more than their 112-109 defeat to the New York Knicks. This was an opportunity to flex their muscles against their bitter Eastern Conference rival. It was a dream that never came to reality.
The Houston alum failed to drain any of his four attempts from deep during the loss to the Knicks. He finished the game with just four points, while shooting around 33% from the floor. Additionally, Grimes has recorded games with five or fewer points in three of his last five appearances.
Given that Jared McCain's role in the rotation has been significantly reduced due to a lack of effectiveness on the floor, it is surprising that the Philadelphia 76ers have not handed Quentin Grimes a similar fate. Nevertheless, if the guard continues to perform at such a counter-productive level, the Sixers will have no choice but to discuss whether his future lies in the City of Philadelphia.