The Philadelphia 76ers finished up the regular season on Sunday with a 128-117 win over the Orlando Magic where they sat their entire starting lineup in order to get them ready for the playoffs. It was a game where coach Doc Rivers put their rookies out on the floor and they competed hard and got the win.
While Tyrese Maxey stole the show, second-round pick Paul Reed flashed some potential after going for career-highs 17 points and 12 rebounds in the win. It finished up a tough season for the rookie as he was first with the team, but he was then sent down to the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats to get some playing time.
He was able to win G League MVP down there in the Orlando bubble before coming back to the Sixers and really only playing mop-up duty in most games. Looking back on it, this will all help him become a better player down the road.
“It’s been very interesting,” said Reed after the win. “You got the best team in the NBA and that kind of is like a humbling experience. I went to the G League and got MVP. It’s easy to get big-headed, but every day, I try to remind myself to stay humble. I know I’m good and stuff, but just stay humble, just keep working harder and harder to get better every day. That’s the mindset.”
It can be hard not to play, but the work that Reed has put in combined with being around a lot of proven veterans can help him continue to get better in the long run. He has been able to show off flashes of some real skill and the challenge now will be to just add to his game.
“It’s been up and down this season,” he finished with a smile. “Mentally, I just got to remind myself to trust the process. TTP.”
Now, the rookie just has to keep working and be able to make an impact on the team in the future.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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