Jaden Springer opens up on not playing for Sixers, work in the G League
PHILADELPHIA–Young Philadelphia 76ers guard Jaden Springer was the 28th pick in the 2021 NBA draft and he has played a grand total of six games in his career thus far. The 20-year-old out of Tennessee has had the tough circumstance of being drafted to a veteran team with title aspirations.
Therefore, the Sixers have not had the time to develop him on the floor with them. A guy like Springer needs game reps in order to continue to grow as a player and continue to become the player the Sixers believe he can be and it’s why he spends a lot of time in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats.
The second-year guard received 5:33 of garbage time in Tuesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings, but that’s not exactly what he saw for himself when he entered the NBA.
Keeping the spirits up despite not playing
“Ima be honest, that’s tough sometimes, but just remembering that everything’s a process,” he said. “I’m working toward something so I can’t get caught up in the moment. I just keep trusting in my work. I know it’s gonna pay off.”
With that being said, it is more helpful to Springer if he does play in the G League and gets those reps rather than sitting on the bench and not getting the court time he needs.
Being sent to Delaware often
“For sure, definitely,” he explained. “Every time they send me down there, I’m happy to go. I wanna sometimes if I don’t have the opportunity to play up here. I would love to go to the G League and play, get the reps, and just get better.”
Even though playing is the most important thing, being selected in Round 1 and not playing as much as other players who were first-round picks can be discouraging. However, Springer is trying to keep a positive mindset.
Attacking the days
“I really take it like I take everything else,” he added. “Just go in there and attack it. Look at it as an opportunity to go and get better. That’s how I take every day out here.”
Springer had been dealing with a right quad strain so that is something that has held him out, but in four games in the G League, he is shooting 35.7% from deep and 90% from the foul line. Obviously, a small sample size, but those numbers are much better than his 28% 3-point shooting and 71.4% free-throw shooting in the 2021-22 G League season.
Being more comfortable
“I feel pretty comfortable,” Springer beamed. “Definitely more comfortable than last year. I feel like the biggest thing for me now is trying to get more reps. More reps, game reps, stuff like that. I feel like that’s the biggest thing.”
Most of all, Springer is motivated individually to be the best he can be. He isn’t relying on his older teammates. This is about how badly he wants to succeed in the league.
Being driven to succeed
“Everybody will look out, help out, come talk to me, and stuff like that here and there,” he finished. “The main just really comes down to yourself. Your drive. I don’t feel like nobody else can push you at this point in our careers.”
