NEW YORK — As the Philadelphia 76ers work their way through the preseason, coach Nick Nurse is looking to shape a consistent rotation he can turn to when the season opens on Oct. 26 in Milwaukee.
One player who appears to have solidified a spot in the rotation is Kelly Oubre Jr.
The Sixers brought in Oubre Jr. late in free agency, and he has given Philadelphia solid play in all three preseason contests. In Monday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets, Oubre Jr. had 21 points in a starting role. He was more than solid on the defensive end.
“He didn’t start the game, I don’t know what he missed, maybe his first five shots,” Nurse said of Oubre Jr. “I thought he hung in there. He gets in there with a lineup where we need him to score there in the second quarter and he kinda got one bucket after another. I think he’s gonna be that second unit we go to a little bit.”
The offense is going to be there with the veteran out of Kansas. He averaged 20.3 points for the Charlotte Hornets in the 2022-23 season. For him to earn consistent playing time, he has to bring it on both ends of the floor, and he did so against the Nets.
“I thought he was more solid defensively,” Nurse added. “He’s making some progress there, so I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary there for him defensively so that’s good.”
Oubre Jr. hasn’t been known for his defense in the league, but he was billed as an elite defender coming out of college and the Sixers will need him to continue to be that guy for Philadelphia.
“It’s the bread and butter for me,” Oubre Jr. said of his defense. “In my game, defense has always led to offense.”
Oubre Jr. continues to figure out how he best fits in Philadelphia. Considering this is still the feeling-out period in the preseason, that is understandable.
“I would say about 70%,” he said of his comfort level. “I’m still trying to figure it out. Take it day by day. Things are changing constantly and my role has changed and stuff like that, but I try to pride myself on being water and try to go with the flow so that’s what I’m doing.”
The Sixers have a final preseason game on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks.