CAMDEN, N.J. — Young Philadelphia 76ers guard Jaden Springer had a terrific preseason as he prepares for his third season in the league. Springer was terrific on the defensive end and showed an improved shot by making seven of his eight 3s.
It is a product of the work he has put in over the offseason not only privately, but also at the Rico Hines open gym runs at UCLA’s campus. Those open runs invite the top talent in the NBA to compete and work on their games.
Veteran Patrick Beverley was also at those runs, and he was impressed with Springer’s ability to sacrifice to keep getting better.
“For me, when I look at basketball players, especially young players, it’s not what impresses me the most,” Beverley said of Springer. “I think it’s all about the sacrifices. Two and a half, almost three months ago, I showed up to UCLA and he was in there.”
Essentially, Springer could have been at the pool or playing video games or somewhere on vacation. Instead, he sacrificed that to be in the gym putting in work to improve his game and that is what impresses Beverley.
“I think with that attitude and that discipline of sacrificing his time away from his play, his time away from his personal agenda, putting it all to the team, putting it all to basketball, nothing but good stuff happens from that,” Beverley added. “If it was one thing I’m impressed by, it’s the sacrifice to this team.”
When the Sixers open the season on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks, one has to figure Springer will be in the rotation. That will be his first real opportunity to earn and keep a rotation spot in his third season.
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