Kelly Oubre Jr Fell Back In Love With Basketball In Philadelphia
Kelly Oubre Jr. was a pleasant surprise for the Sixers last year. Signed to a minimum deal, there was not a ton expected from him besides being a rotational piece. Turns out, he was their 3rd best player. With Paul George now in town, he won’t be the 3rd best player again, but he is back with the Sixers on a team-friendly deal.
Why did he pick Philly and the Sixers, even if it meant taking slightly less money than he may have gotten elsewhere? According to Kelly Oubre Jr himself, it is because this is where he fell back in love with basketball.
Kelly Oubre Jr. Got To Be A Winner Again
Last season was Kelly Oubre Jr’s first taste of the postseason since he went there with the Wizards back in 2018. Since then, he had played for the Suns, the 1 year the Warriors missed the playoffs and the Hornets. Missing out on postseason basketball every time.
He was the 8 seed with the Warriors, but that was the first year of the play-in tournament, and the Warriors lost two straight games, missing the actual post-season.
But while things were not perfect here, the Sixers were a winning team before Embiid got hurt. It all unraveled against the Knicks, but Oubre got to remember what it is like to win again, and evidently, it reminded him of why he loves the sport.
So when he hit free agency, he made the decision to run it back with the Sixers. Oubre Jr signed a 2-year $16.4 million contract. He claimed he was offered more money elsewhere too. Philly was where he wanted to play though. Here he knows his role and knows he will have the chance to compete, especially now with Paul George in town.
Oubre Jr averaged 15.1 points per game in his 1 year with the Sixers. Barring additional moves, he currently looks to be their starting SG.