WILMINGTON, Del. — Philadelphia 76ers two-way rookies Ricky Council IV and Terquavion Smith are currently up with the team with the Sixers ravaged by injuries. Coach Nick Nurse can call upon them to produce at any moment.
With the Sixers having a rough night in Indiana to begin their 5-game road trip, Nurse gave Council IV and Smith their time to play in the fourth quarter. Council IV poured in 11 points while knocking down a triple and Smith had five assists with three steals and two points. The two rookies showed off their ability to produce and the Sixers know they have some terrific pieces for the future.
Mike Longabardi, the coach of Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, expressed his happiness for both Council IV and Smith as they move forward with their careers.
“We’re so happy for them,” Longabardi said on Friday after the Blue Coats defeated the Wisconsin Herd. “They’ve worked extremely hard. Both of them are big time. Like, love the game type guys, they’re hoopers, and to watch them get out there and play. We’re all just so, so happy for them.”
Both Council IV and Smith have been working hard since the summer. They played for the Sixers in both the Salt Lake City Summer League and the Las Vegas Summer League and they stayed with the team throughout this entire process.
Council IV is averaging 24.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in seven regular season games with the Blue Coats while Smith is averaging 22.3 points and 3.0 assists in Delaware. Longabardi has been impressed with their development.
“I just think experience, right?” said Longabardi. “They just like keep going, getting through it. They’ve been here since the summer, and they just continue to work. I just think now the pace and flow of the game, and I know—I send them a text message all the time, I said, ‘you guys belong’. They’re confident kids and they want to go out and they want to play so I’m really happy for them.”
[lawrence-related id=89624,89630,89620]