Tag: Mo Speights

NBA draft rewind: Sixers select Mo Speights at No. 16 in 2008

The Philadelphia 76ers selected big man Mo Speights with the No. 16 pick in the 2008 NBA draft.

With the 2024 NBA draft approaching quickly–Round 1 of the draft is set for June 26–now is the time to look back at some of the previous draft picks the Philadelphia 76ers have made in recent years.

The Sixers entered the 2008 draft on a high note following a surprising run to the playoffs. The 2007-08 Sixers did not have playoff expectations for that season, yet they made a run and gave the mighty Detroit Pistons a scare in the postseason.

Looking to add to the young core, the Sixers selected Mo Speights out of Florida with the No. 16 pick. Speights played 79 games and 16.0 minutes a night as a rookie averaging 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds while helping the Sixers get back to the playoffs. He spent three seasons in Philadelphia.

After the run with the Sixers, Speights spent time with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers, and finished his career with the Orlando Magic in 2017-18. He won a title with the Warriors in 2015.

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NBA draft rewind: Sixers select big man Mo Speights in Round 1 of 2008

The Philadelphia 76ers selected Mo Speights in the 2008 NBA draft with the 16th overall pick.

The Philadelphia 76ers are without a draft pick in 2023, so it’s a good time to look back at some past draft picks the franchise has made.

After the Sixers made a surprising playoff run in the 2007-08 season, they were left with the 16th pick in the draft. They decided to go with Florida big man Mo Speights with the selection to bolster their bench unit. He assumed the backup role behind Samuel Dalembert and 2007 pick Thaddeus Young.

Speights played 79 games as a rookie, averaging 16 minutes, 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He played in three playoff games in Philadelphia’s first-round matchup with the Orlando Magic, averaging 3.0 points and 2.0 rebounds off the bench.

Speights played three seasons in Philadelphia, averaging 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds with the Sixers. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in January 2012. Speights won a title with the Golden State Warriors in 2015 before finishing his career with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Orlando Magic.

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