The Philadelphia 76ers showed out in their first preseason game against the New York Knicks. Obviously, this game does not count in the standings, but the team specifically had one standout in the form of big man Jabari Walker, who mounted a strong audition piece right from the get-go with his impressive play on both ends of the floor.
In just a hair over 19 minutes of gameplay, Waker registered a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, sinking three of his five three-pointers in the process. All of a sudden, he has turned the race for the backup center position for the team even more complicated, especially now that the stars are aligning for him to solidify his grasp into the critical role with all the injuries to the other big men on the roster.
Jabari Walker immediately makes a strong case for a critical 76ers role
Ariel Hukporti started the game, but he suffered a non-contact injury less than five minutes into the game and never returned –– a grim situation, as it appears to have something to do with his Achilles. That already trims down the options for the 76ers right now since Adem Bona is still recovering from his own injury and Dominick Barlow also did not show up for their first preseason match. It is still early, but the team already has a crisis at the center position.
Walker has no other choice but to seize the opportunity to showcase what he can do on the hardwood. If he keeps this kind of production up, he might even be poised to land the primary backup center role despite being undersized. After all, he has already flashed some ideal qualities that will make the bench more formidable.
Despite his small stature for a nominal center, Walker is a tenacious rebounder who is not afraid to stick his nose in the paint and corral tough boards. Defensively, he has ample range with his mobility and activity. It is his improved offense, however, that will firmly augment his case for more minutes this coming season as he aims to have his contract fully guaranteed by January.
If Walker can sustain his three-point shooting, Nick Nurse will undoubtedly deploy him more than expected. A frontcourt pairing of him and Dean Wade off the bench creates some interesting lineup combinations that will make their offense harder to deal with without having to make concessions on defense.
Clearly, now is the time for Jabari Walker to convince the coaching staff that he is more than just a third-string big man. The 76ers need him right now, and if he can be consistent throughout the preseason, he should be able to lock up such an important role for the team.
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