It is far from a secret that the Philadelphia 76ers' previous campaign was nothing less than a catastrophe -- winning just 24 games in the entirety of the season. The franchise's loyal fanbase would have been happy to take a flamethrower to the whole roster sheet and start from fresh, with very few exceptions.
The Sixers may have witnessed a leap in the development of players such as Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and Adem Bona. Yet, the rest of their roster showed little resilience down the stretch of a gruelling schedule, succumbing to injuries and downright awful performances.
Despite finding himself under the microscope for his questionable performance levels, one former Charlotte Hornets star showed glimpses of the contribution he could make to a championship-contending franchise -- if utilized correctly.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is far from an offensive talisman
Understandably, the 76ers fans will turn their noses up at the inclination that Kelly Oubre Jr. could be more than a valuable tool from the bench. After a litany of poor offensive performances, it is tough to build a case for the 29-year-old.
However, head coach Nick Nurse had no option but to hand Oubre Jr. a primary role in the offense due to the depleted roster that he had at his disposal. As one of the vocal points of the attack, the Kansas graduate carried the ball up the court on more occasions than Sixers fans would have hoped and took a high volume of 3-point attempts, in which he only sank 29%.
Again, this is a tactic that will not win you an abundance of matchups in the NBA. Despite averaging 15.1 points per game while shooting 47% from the floor, Kelly Oubre displayed glances of a different skillset that could make him invaluable to this talented group of players when they are all fit and healthy -- or maybe the word 'if' is more fitting.
Oubre's defensive skillset could be vital
One thing that supporters of the 'City of Brotherly Love' cannot question is the versatile star's attitude and work ethic when he is on the court. On defense, Oubre Jr. is the NBA equivalent of a relentless chihuahua who is unwilling to give innocent bystanders a moment to rest.
Throughout last year's miserable campaign, the athletic defender showed his ability to contest on the perimeters, especially against teams that attempt to space the floor and focus on shooting from deep.
Not only was there a willingness to disrupt the opposition's offense, but Oubre Jr. also showcased his fast hands by registering a career-high season in steals per game (1.5) -- while also recording a career-high in steals during a single game (8) versus the Portland Trailblazers on December 30, 2024.
Kelly Oubre Jr. will continue to spark debate throughout the Philadelphia 76ers fanbase as to whether he should be trusted with a significant role in the rotation. When being utilised correctly and not as a spark on offense, this is a player who could contribute heavily in a championship-contending franchise.