FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The main focus for the Philadelphia 76ers remains the James Harden saga and figuring out how to handle that while getting everybody on the same page under new coach Nick Nurse.
However, one cannot forget about the young players.
One player who could make an impact in his third season is Jaden Springer. The 21-year-old out of Tennessee is looking to make an impact, and he could earn a spot in Nurse’s rotation as guys continue to battle for spots.
“Listen, I’m doing a lot of teaching with those guys,” Nurse said. “I probably stopped practice more and make sure that I’m getting some points across. Jaden, in particular, he’s trying to do everything, right. He’s playing hard and he’s physical and he’s into the ball from the start of practice, every early drill, even some of it that’s not almost not even at game speed yet, but he’s always going at game speed.”
Springer has played in 18 games through the first two seasons of his NBA career averaging 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds. If there is one area in which he would help the Sixers immediately, it would be on defense. That is something Nurse is looking to help him harness in camp.
“There is some things that I’m trying to do to make sure he understands to use those abilities that like some of his physicality,” Nurse added. “Just because he’s a guard doesn’t mean he can’t be a good basket protector. Maybe not a rim protector, but he can — we’re working on him getting over there and taking charges or going up vertical, using the gifts that he has to do some of that stuff.”
Springer took another step in the Las Vegas Summer League, mostly on the offensive end. But he showed some more defensive acumen that is impressive for a kid so young. For Nurse, this training camp is about making sure he is ready to compete when his number is called and limiting mistakes.
“He’s done well,” Nurse finished. “He’s done very well and he’s doing what he can do. He gets to the front of the rim. He’s limiting his mistakes, which is, I think that’s what he needs to do. Play hard and limit mistakes.”
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