The Philadelphia 76ers made the decision to part ways with Ricky Council IV last summer, and boy do they look geniuses for committing to that choice. Now, what was once a promising wing for the team is struggling to make it back to the NBA, as he now finds himself having to audition for a roster spot back in the G-League.
Council, who went undrafted in 2023 but was signed by the 76ers as a two-way player. He then went on to play impressive basketball for the team late in his rookie season, earning him a standard NBA contract before it ended.
Unfortunately for Council, he immensely struggled on nearly all facets last season. Despite the 76ers giving him ample opportunities to hone his game with actual on-court reps, he just could not make them count as he eventually got booted out of the roster in late July. He was able to briefly find a new home in Houston before the season began, but the Rockets only signed him to obtain his rights so they can trot him out in their G-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
The 76ers made the right decision to cut ties with Ricky Council IV
A lot of people were disappointed to see Council be a huge negative for the 76ers last season. When he was a rookie, he displayed some real two-way potential with his ability to cut into the lanes and finish around the rim as a strong slasher and defend multiple positions as a malleable and pesky defender out in the perimeter.
Now, Council is scrambling just to make it back to the league. While he still has time to compel teams to take a second look at him, things may get a tad more difficult for him given that he is now 24 years old. To make matters worse, he has only appeared in three games in the G-League and his shot remains broken, draining just 39.4 percent of his shots and 34.8 percent of his three-point tries.
Teams now have a lot of reservations about rostering players who, despite being good defenders, are almost negligible on the offensive end. Unless Council can flip the script on him on offense, he will most likely have to settle for an indefinite pause in the G-League.
The 76ers saw promise in Council, and it is now up to him to start realizing his potential. Hopefully, he can make a quick turnaround, especially since the clock is already ticking for him to make his return.