Potential breakout candidate named the 76ers’ best-kept secret next season

Entering the 2024-25 season, the Philadelphia 76ers will be relying on their accomplished roster to bring them closer to the Larry O’Brien trophy. After all, the team is now composed with a good mix of proven and talented commodities determined to help the franchise snap a 41-year title drought.

Philly has the oldest roster in the league with an average age of 29 years, so it’s highly unlikley that the team will produce another breakout player after Tyrese Maxey from last season. That being said, the club still has some potential hidden aces up its sleeve, starting with a lesser-known wing who can definitely surprise a lot of people this year.

Ricky Council IV named the 76ers’ hidden weapon in 2024-25

Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes listed down each team’s best-kept secret heading into the upcoming campaign and penned Ricky Council IV as Philadelphia’s trump card for next season.

The 23-year-old had his two-way deal converted to a standard one last April and performed well in a late season stretch where the 76ers were riddled by injuries. He instantly rose to the plate, becoming a big factor in a couple of wins that effectively helped the team elude the play-in tournament.

Despite a thicker rotation this time around, Council will almost certainly warrant minutes if his breakout Summer League stint holds up and gives him the momentum he needs to secure consistent court time.

At best, he can potentially supplant Eric Gordon and the other aged guards on the roster and even start given his skill set. Philly needs players who would be willing to do the dirty work and leave a huge mark on the court even without the ball in his hands, and those are qualities embedded in his game.

It’s rather unfair to subject Ricky Council IV to Most Improved Player benchmarks given his uncertain footing on the rotation to start things off, but if he does improve by leaps and bounds, the Philadelphia 76ers should be incredibly glad about giving the undrafted kid a chance to make the big jump.