Tag: James Ennis III

Ranking the 21 players who have played for the most (at least 10!) NBA teams

Ish Smith has now suited up for nearly half the teams in the league. Who else comes close?

There is something special about a journeyman who has experience playing for various different franchises during their NBA careers.

As of the time of publishing this article, there are 21 players who played at least one game for at least 10 different teams around the league. While many are former undrafted free agents who scrapped and clawed their way around to stay pros, others were former top picks.

Joe Smith (No. 1 overall pick in 1995), Jim Jackson (No. 4 pick in 1992), Jeff Green (No. 5 pick in 2007) and D.J. Augustin (No. 9 pick in 2008) were lottery picks before bouncing around from team to team.

One reason for this is that you have to be pretty good to convince so many teams that you are worth an NBA contract.

So we took a look at the players who have played for the most teams while in the NBA. Feel free to use this as a resource next time you are having trouble guessing a player for Immaculate Grid.

Note that some active players who could potentially make this list in the future if they keep signing with new teams in the NBA include Justin Holiday, Robin Lopez, Jae Crowder, Seth Curry, George Hill, JaVale McGee, Markieff Morris and Noah Vonleh.

The pie charts provided below indicate how many games each player played with each team so you can track longevity.

All data is available via Basketball-Reference and NBA.com.

Every player in Philadelphia 76ers history who has worn No. 11

Here are all 33 players who have worn the No. 11 in the history of the Philadelphia 76ers.

It’s summertime in the NBA, so it’s time to learn some history. The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the older franchises in the NBA. Their history dates to the 1949-50 season.

With that longevity, the team has had hundreds of players come through the City of Brotherly Love. Sixers Wire looks at the No. 11, which has been worn by 33 of those players in the history of the franchise.

This running series will go through all of the uniform numbers worn in franchise history. The previous edition of this series was a list compiling the 30 players who have worn the No. 12.

Here is the list of the 33 who have worn No. 11 in Sixers history:

Sixers to trade James Ennis III to Magic for draft pick, clear spot

The Philadelphia 76ers will send James Ennis III to the Orlando Magic for a second-round pick.

The Philadelphia 76ers needed to clear space on their roster in order to accommodate their acquisitions of Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III. So, for the second consecutive year, general manager Elton Brand called up the Orlando Magic in order to get a deal done.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sixers will send James Ennis III to the Magic for a second-round pick. With the addition of Robinson, the Sixers did not need Ennis anymore as they are essentially the same player offensively in terms of shot selection. Ennis was averaging 5.8 points and he shot 34.9% from deep in 49 games with Philadelphia.

The pick is a 2020 second-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ennis will be missed in his aggressiveness on the offensive glass and his energy off the bench, but the addition of Robinson made him expendable and he is an upgrade over him at this point.

Robinson is shooting 40% from deep and is averaging 12 points. Obviously, he won’t average that much in Philadelphia due to his role being diminished, but it’s a big move for the Sixers moving forward. [lawrence-related id=25039,25069,25031]

Sixers to be without key reserve James Ennis III against Rockets

The Philadelphia 76ers will be without reserve James Ennis III against the Houston Rockets.

The Philadelphia 76ers will head to the Toyota Center to face the Houston Rockets on Friday looking to put a stop tp a frustrating losing skid that has spanned across three games. In order to do so, they will have to go to battle without one of their top reserves.

James Ennis III will miss the matchup on Friday due to a stomach illness that held him out of practice on Thursday. The veteran is averaging 6.7 points off the bench for the Sixers and is shooting 36% from deep, That type of production offensively plus his defensive skills will be missed against a guy like James Harden.

With Ennis out, the Sixers will most likely turn to Shake Milton for the first crack at the backup wing minutes, but Zhaire Smith could be in the mix as well. Smith was called up from the Delaware Blue Coats on Thursday and is with the team in Houston on Friday. [lawrence-related id=22592,22603,22585]

James Ennis III, Matisse Thybulle praise Al Horford as leader for Sixers

The Philadelphia 76ers applaud the addition of Al Horford to their team.

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The Philadelphia 76ers brought in Al Horford over the summer to help the team move forward in their quest for an NBA title. His ability to be one of the better defenders in the league and also be one of the more efficient offensive players is a big plus to the group as a whole.

There is one other thing that Horford offers and that’s his leadership ability. He is a guy who has been around the league for a long time and he has seen a lot of things in the league. It’s that leadership that allows him to help the Sixers in other areas as well.

“Al’s good,” said James Ennis III. “He’s been in the league for a long time. He’s been to the playoffs his whole career being in the NBA. I’m happy he’s here. We can learn a lot from him, he always has something to say, positive, so it’s good vibes from him.”

It’s also that type of leadership that can help out the younger guys like rookie Matisse Thybulle who still has a lot to learn in this league.

“For me, just talking to me and helping me understand that ‘this is the NBA and things are different’ and just coaching me through a lot of that,” the rookie said. “Whether it’s helping me out because I get in foul trouble really easily and he goes to the refs because he has a relationship with them already and he talks to them on my behalf and he comes back to me with advice on how to do it better next time.”

Horford is also good for the team, not just for individuals. He wants to help everybody.

“I think he’s done a lot, not just for, but for the team,” Thybulle added. “I know we’ll have team meetings and he’ll jump in and give advice to everyone. Whether he’ll just go down the line and just stop at people and what he thinks can help them and help the team in different ways.”

The Sixers still have a lot of growing to do, but the addition of Horford is paying off in plenty of ways. [lawrence-related id=20550,20542,20535]

Sixers key reserve James Ennis III believes he’s a ‘hot guy’ right now

Philadelphia 76ers reserve James Ennis III refers to himself as the “hot guy” on the team right now.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been looking for more consistent offense off the bench to help support the starters and what they do on the floor. They have seemed to have found it in the form of James Ennis III.

The Sixers reserve has been playing much better as of late starting with scoring 20 points off the bench in a win over the New York Knicks followed by more solid scoring outputs during the team’s current 4-game winning streak.

Ennis has been shooting 50% from deep during the streak and he has been getting to the free-throw line much more as he has averaged 3.5 attempts over the previous four games, well above his season average of 1.8. He believes it is due to the fact that he is showing up on other team’s scouting reports now and because he refers to himself as a “hot guy”.

“So I’m considered a ‘hot guy’ now so a lot of guys are flying at me,” explained Ennis at practice on Tuesday. “So I have to put the ball on the ground and I definitely get to the lane a lot more now.”

It is because of that efficiency from deep that he is beginning to get the respect of other guys around the league and it’s all because of that term that he likes to give himself: “hot guy”.

“I want to be known as a ‘hot guy’, someone who can knock down shots,” he added with a laugh. “So I can get people with my shot-fake now because I’m a ‘hot guy’.”

It is clear that he has a lot of swagger and confidence right now and it’s something that the Sixers will gladly take now that he is that “hot guy” on the team and on the scouting report.

“I guess there is!” exclaimed coach Brett Brown. “Good for him! He’s a great story. He’s come sort of hidden with Miami, then went overseas, then had a taste with Houston, and now here he is with us and he’s having a helluva year.”

The Sixers will now hit the road on Thursday to face the Washington Wizards where they hope Ennis can remain hot. [lawrence-related id=20518,20507,20499]

James Ennis III gives Sixers a reliable veteran presence off bench

The Philadelphia 76ers can count on James Ennis III to make an impact off their bemch with his veteran presence.

The Philadelphia 76ers are generally one of the better defensive teams in the league, but in Saturday’s win over the Indiana Pacers, they had their issues defending the Pacers out on the perimeter. Young wings Furkan Korkmaz and Matisse Thybulle had their struggles defending T.J. Warren and Jeremy Lamb and it forced coach Brett Brown to make a change.

So, he decided to roll with a proven veteran in James Ennis III down the stretch in the fourth quarter along with the other four regular starters. With Josh Richardson still hampered by a hamstring issue and the youngsters struggling on defense, Ennis III did his job and helped the Sixers hold on for the win.

This comes off the heels of an impressive game against the New York Knicks on Friday when he poured in 20 points off the bench and he gives Brown a steady presence off the bench.

“James has been steady throughout,” said Brown. “For me, it’s like I like him as kind of a solid player coming off the bench. When you get down to making a decision like ‘who’s going to end the game?’ I’ve got a decision to make. You look at Matisse, Furk, or James and I think James has been that person for me. I like him coming off the bench. It’s another stable, veteran mind that can shoot and guard.”

Along with his defense, Ennis scored nine points as he knocked down a couple of shots from deep and it’s that type of production that can keep him in the rotation consistently. While Korkmaz will receive a start when it’s needed due to his ability to provide some quick offense, a veteran like Ennis will add that steady presence in case he isn’t producing to Brown’s liking.

“We go with a wild card like Furk to see what he can do with the start surrounded by a pretty good starting five,” Brown explained. “That’s the reason I do it, how I end the game is the decision I just said. James has been playing well, he was playing well tonight and rewarded with the minutes that he closed the game out with.”

The Sixers will hope to have Richardson back on Monday when they host the Utah Jazz, but he is listed as doubtful so it can be assumed that Korkmaz and Ennis will factor into the rotation heavily again. [lawrence-related id=20406,20397,20389]

Sixers vs. Pacers preview: Sixers welcome back reserve T.J. McConnell

The Philadelphia 76ers return home to host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

The Philadelphia 76ers will return home on Saturday night after rallying to knock off the New York Knicks on the road on Friday and they will be facing off against a familiar face. When the Indiana Pacers invade the Wells Fargo Center, they will be bringing with them Process champion T.J. McConnell.

McConnell left the Sixers in free agency in July to sign with the Pacers after he spent four seasons in Philadelphia. He was a major part of the Sixers infamous “Process” and he saw the majority of it through and through and he even started a playoff game in 2018 against the Boston Celtics. Unlike Jimmy Butler’s return on November 23, it can be assumed that the reception for McConnell will be a bit more friendly.

With that said, it’s time to dive into the Sixers and the Pacers with all of the guidelines:

How to watch Sixers vs. Pacers

  • Date: Saturday, November 30
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
  • TV: NBATV, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Injury Report

  • Sixers: NOT YET SUBMITTED
  • Pacers: NOT YET SUBMITTED

Storylines

Bench producers

The Sixers bench has been able to step up and provide some production when the team needs it. In their Thanksgiving Eve win over the Sacramento Kings, it was rookie Matisse Thybulle who stepped in and provided some good work off the bench to give the team a big spark late. On Friday, it was James Ennis III who scored 20 points off the pine to guide Philadelphia on a big rally past the Knicks.

Tobias Harris stated on Ennis on Friday:

I mean, in this whole locker room he has a respect level with the way that he plays and how hard he plays and tonight it was that coming to fruition in a high-volume way, but we don’t come out of here with a win today without him, his effort. I thought he gave us a huge spark especially in the third quarter and played a great game. He desereves it, he works his butt off and he is a professional and he comes in every game and gives us that great energy.

Pelle surprises

The Sixers were undermanned on Friday as they were already missing Kyle O’Quinn due to injury and then decided to rest Al Horford with the team playing a back-to-back situation. So, the Sixers decided to call upon two-way player Norvel Pelle to provide some minutes off the bench. The 26-year old made his debut and scored three points with four big blocks as he protected the rim nicely.

Harris again was happy with what he saw from Pelle as he stated:

To come right up from the G League and be able to make an impact today in the game, I thought he did a great job of just contesting shots, making the game a bit scrappy just by imposing his will out there. So I thought his energy was great for us.

Prediction

The Sixers are just a different team at home. The Philadelphia fan base just rallies around them and gives them the big boost of energy they need in some games to come away with a win. The Pacers are a scrappy bunch led by Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Malcolm Brogdon who have been holding down the fort until Victor Oladipo returns from injury, but it will be a tall task on the road. Philadelphia should be able to hold off Indiana and make it three straight wins.

Pick: Sixers in a close one

Sixers vs. Pacers season series

Game 1 November 30:

Game 2 December 31:

Game 3 Januaru 13:

Game 4 March 14:

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Multiple Sixers sing high praises for James Ennis III after win vs. Knicks

Philadelphia 76ers forward James Ennis III receives a lot of love and praise from his teammates.

The bench unit for the Philadelphia 76ers gets a lot of criticism as they don’t quite have the same type of star power that the starting unit possesses. However, when they need to be called upon, they produce.

The latest example of that was Friday night at Madison Square Garden where the Sixers trailed the New York Knicks by 12 at halftime and were searching for answers. Coach Brett Brown called upon James Ennis III and he responded by knocking down timely buckets and making big shots to help spur a comeback and win it 101-95.

All-Star Ben Simmons was happy with what Ennis provided as he said:

Besides rebounding the ball at a very high level, offensively he is athletic. Tonight, he was knocking down shots and he stepped up in a big way, which is huge especially with a couple of guys out.

Philadelphia shot 2-for-18 from deep in the first half as they seemed to have a really hard time finding any offensive flow. They shot much better in the second half to finish 7-for-26 for the game and Ennis made 3-for-4 from deep personally.

Coach Brett Brown was happy with what he provided as he added:

I thought he was good on both sides of the ball. We struggled from the three. I think we were 2-for-18 in the first half and ended 5-for-8. James’ ability to swing and knock stuff down in the corners certainly helps the scoreboard.

Tobias Harris, who also played a key role in the second-half comeback as he scored 13 of his 19 in the final 24 minutes, added this on Ennis:

I mean, in this whole locker room he has a respect level with the way that he plays and how hard he plays and tonight it was that coming to fruition in a high-volume way, but we don’t come out of here with a win today without him, his effort. I thought he gave us a huge spark especially in the third quarter and played a great game. He desereves it, he works his butt off and he is a professional and he comes in every game and gives us that great energy.

The Sixers have been finding contributors off the bench recently as Matisse Thybulle played a big role in their Thanksgiving Eve win over the Sacramento Kings, Ennis playing a big role on Friday, and others playing roles in the past. This will need to continue for them to get back in the saddle and seriously chase a title.  [lawrence-related id=20230,20203,20210]

Brett Brown has high praise for Sixers bench after win over Knicks

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown had high praise for his bench unit after a win over the New York Knicks.

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The Philadelphia 76ers had to dig deep and rally from a 17 point deficit in order to beat the New York Knicks at home on Wednesday night, but it was a win that showed off the team’s depth. As much praise as Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and the starters receive, it was their bench that provided a huge spark to come back and win on Wednesday.

Mike Scott had 12 points on his four triples in the second-half rally, James Ennis III had 11 points and also made some big plays in the win, and Trey Burke was a big help as well.

That did not go unnoticed despite Simmons’ big game, coach Brett Brown stated on his bench:

We were searching for sure. We had a hard time guarding them. They were making shots and you’re looking down the bench and we tried Furk(Korkmaz) and we tried Shake(Milton), Matisse(Thybulle) we’re trying to grow and we ended up leaning on Trey Burke as a 2. Somebody who could do some stuff off a live ball and I thought his intensity changed the speed, the energy in the gym, and I ended up going with Mike a little bit more than Al(Horford) down the stretch. I played Ben more than I normally would want to, but we were searching for awhile.

It does not mean it was all sunshine and rainbows off the bench. Brown was frustrated with how the Sixers had to rally from down 17 and his search for answers in order to win as he added:

We searched. I kept searching trying to find something. We tried Furk, I went away from him, I tried Shake, I went away from him, I thought James Ennis came in and played well and hit some big shots when we needed it. Then you end up going to a scoring point guard like Trey is and treating him like AI(Iverson) letting him run off the ball and looping him up and giving him the ball and putting him in pick-and-rolls and I thought he was really good. The iterations to get to that were frustrating.

At the end of the day, Philadelphia received 45 big points off their bench and it really helped key the win on Wednesday. It will have to continue as the team itself tries to figure things out on the fly. Any contributions from the role players are help at this moment in time. [lawrence-related id=19717,19708,19690]