The 2020-21 season has been one like nobody has seen before in the NBA. There is a lot of unprecedented events that have been going on such as testing every day, masks, empty arenas, and games coming at a rapid pace.
It can be a lot to take in for a veteran, let alone a rookie who is still trying to make that transition from college to the NBA.
For Philadelphia 76ers second-round rookie Isaiah Joe, he is still making that transition while also looking to earn coach Doc Rivers’ trust and be in the rotation on a consistent basis. As the season wears on, he has to lean on the veterans such as Danny Green, Seth Curry, Matisse Thybulle, and others to learn the ropes.
“I feel like they all have things that they can drop down like the guard aspect of knowing the space and you have to know everybody’s at on the floor at all times,” said Joe. “When we have bigs like Joel (Embiid), you have to know what you’re supposed to be doing for what you’re not supposed to do, stay within your game.”
The rookie out of Arkansas is shooting 36.8% from deep as he continues to learn the ropes at this level. He has shown off other aspects of his game such as being able to put the ball on the floor as well as play solid defense, but the biggest thing for him is just keeping his confidence up and continuing to work hard every day.
“Just little things like confidence,” he added. “They always tell me to keep my confidence. Even when I come in, take some shots, and whether I miss them or make them, they pick me up with it like ‘this part of the job or it’s part of the game’. Just working every day to grind and everything else is basketball. Nothing changes.”
Joe and the Sixers will continue to learn each other on Sunday as they get set to take on the Toronto Raptors on the road in Tampa, Florida.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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