The Philadelphia 76ers have appeared to have depth issues in the absence of Kelly Oubre Jr. Almost a month ago, on November 11th, Oubre Jr. was reportedly involved in a hit-and-run accident in Center City and suffered broken ribs from the incident. Our thoughts and prayers have been with the Sixers guard and his family throughout his recovery. It appears there has recently been some good news though.
Is Kelly Oubre Jr. playing tonight for the Sixers?
Kelly Oubre Jr. plays basketball today. 😄 pic.twitter.com/ctUkBcg5lQ
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 6, 2023
If it is on the Sixers official X (formerly Twitter) account, then there is no doubt. Tonight against the Washington Wizards, Oubre Jr. will take the floor for the first time since his accident. Not only is this a good day for him, it is a good day for Sixers fans as the return could not come at a better time.
The Sixers are 5-6 in eleven games without Oubre Jr. and have lost four of their last six games. After a hot start, the team seems to have cooled off a bit and it feels like it is more than just missing players due to injury or rest. The offense has looked stagnant at times and the defense is lackluster. We will see if Oubre Jr. can inject some energy tonight, but the Wizards are hardly a good gauge for this.
Before the accident, Oubre Jr. averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 37.8% from the three-point range. His offensive versatility is key for Nick Nurse's offense and his effort and length on defense have been a problem for opposing perimeter players.
Will Oubre Jr. pick up right where he left off for the Sixers?
Expectations should be tempered for his first game back. Having not seen live NBA basketball in almost a month, it may take a minute for Oubre Jr. to get back in rhythm, but Washington is a perfect team to start that process with. Tonight is an exciting night for the team as health has always been a big concern within this franchise. What are your expectations for Oubre Jr. tonight?