Jaden Springer opens up on Sixers, rookie season, cracking the rotation
Young Philadelphia 76ers guard Jaden Springer had what some would call an underwhelming rookie season. The No. 28 pick of the 2021 NBA draft played a grand total of just two games in his first go-around in the league, but if you ask him, his first season in the NBA was helpful for him.
Springer spent most of the season in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats where he played 19 games and he averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 rebounds while being a defensive stud out on the perimeter. His efforts helped the Blue Coats make the G League finals as he averaged 21.3 points and 1.7 steals in the G League playoffs.
As he gets set to begin his second season in the league, the 19-year-old Springer sat down with Sixers Wire to discuss his rookie season in Philadelphia, his summer workouts, and his plans for cracking the rotation.
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: First of all Jaden, I'm just curious. How's your summer going? What are you working on?
Jaden: The summer has been great. Just trying to be in the gym as much as I can. That’s what I’ve been focusing on. I’ve been working on like, getting up a lot of shots. That’s the main thing I’ve been working on. Making quick decisions, playing out of closeouts, and stuff like that. That’s the biggest things.
Q: Have you been doing anything just for fun? Just to get away from basketball and relax a little bit?
Jaden: No, not really. I ain’t really had too much time to do that. *Jaden laughed.*
Sixers Wire: No, man? Like no video games? No swimming in the pool? None of that?
Jaden: I watch TV shows. I watch Netflix and Hulu and stuff like that. That’s what I do in my free time.
SW: Let me get a Netflix recommendation.
Jaden: It just depends on what you like. I watch a lot of stuff. So Umbrella Academy, Outer Banks, Ozark, it just depends on what type of person you are, what you in into.
Q: You only played two games in the NBA in your rookie season. Was it tough for you to not play much?
Jaden: For sure, it was tough in some ways, but at the same time, we got a team, like, we’re trying to win a championship so I understand where they’re coming from. They don’t want to just throw me out there. They want to develop me and get ready to make sure that when they call on me, I’m gonna be ready to go to full extent. So I understood that.
Q: Obviously, you were able to get a lot of reps down in the G League in Delaware. How important were those reps for you?
Jaden: It was big. I definitely needed that because, like you just said, I only played in like two games or something like that. So being able to go to the G League and still stay in condition, shape, and keep working on my game, that was pretty helpful throughout the year.
Q: I'm just curious, what has the coaching staff done for you? Even after the season has ended, have they given you pointers?
Jaden: Especially, after the season. I definitely had a talk with Doc (Rivers). Sam Cassell checks in with me every now and then just trying to tell me little stuff to work on. So just taking that and just using it throughout the summer, like you said, when I’m working and stuff like that, taking that advice. That’s what I’ve been trying to do.
Q: You spent the playoff run with the team. What was that experience like?
Jaden: It was a crazy experience. *Jaden smiled here* My first time actually being in a playoff game. My whole life, I’ve been watching on TV, but being able to be there and experience it. The energy, the crowd, and just how different the game felt. That was great.
Q: James (Harden) and Tyrese (Maxey), have they pulled you aside specifically and given you any pointers?
Jaden: I wouldn’t say that, but it’s a bunch of guys on our team. A bunch of vets that have done that throughout the year. Like you said, I’ve been in the G League throughout the year so I didn’t really get there to be around James until like the playoffs and stuff like that. So that’s a little later on, but just watching them guys. He’s been playing at one of the highest levels for years like he’s been doing this. He’s one of the best that the game has seen. So just being able to watch him play and stuff like that. That’s been great.
Q: You're in your second summer league. What are the things you're trying to pinpoint and grow?
Jaden: I’m trying to show how I can fit in with the team. With the Sixers and everything like that because you know we already got guys. You got Jo (Joel Embiid), you got Harden, you got Tyrese, you got guys like that Tobias (Harris), like just being able to come in and compliment all those guys. That’s probably one of the main things I’ve been doing and trying to show them what I can do best, like how I can help the team out and stuff like that. I feel like that’s what I’ve been working on. Like you said, Doc talked to me, stuff like that. I’m just trying to implement that.
Q: I noticed that some of the guys are in Vegas rooting for you guys. What does that do for team chemistry?
Jaden: That’s great to have that. Those guys just supporting. Just seeing them on the sideline, seeing the smiling, cheering you on, and stuff like that. That’s big, like, it’s always great to have that support. That means they really care for the team. They support the young guys and stuff like that. So that’s good.
Q: You've been known for your defense. What kind of pride do you take on the defensive end?
Jaden: I feel like I’ve been like that pretty much my whole life. I always took pride in defense. I don’t want to see a guy score on me or get off or anything like that. So I feel like it just kind of comes naturally to me even though I feel like there’s still things I need to improve on and work on. I had talked with the staff like off the ball and stuff like that, but I feel I really take pride in my man-to-man defense and stuff like that.
Q: The team has made some new additions. What's the battle like to earn playing time? These guys are your teammates, you want to see them do well, but on the flip side, you want to beat them out to earn a spot on the court.
Jaden: That’s what basketball is. Basketball is a competition. It’s a competitive sport. So at the end of the day, I’m just going to go out there and just keep playing and they’re gonna do the same thing. They’re gonna play like they know how to. So I feel like that’s just what it comes down to. I’m not really looking at them to see what they’re doing or anything like that, but at the same time, we still teammates so we’re just gonna go out there and compete and whatever happens, happens. Nothing’s ever going to be given to you at this level.
Q: Isaiah Joe is a guy who's coming into his third season. What are some lessons you've learned from Isaiah?
Jaden: Isaiah is definitely a great guy. He knows what he’s doing out there. He knows the game and he’s definitely somebody you can watch and learn from, you know what I mean? So he’s been around for a couple of years going into his third year, like you said, so just being able to watch those guys and see how they go through their day as a pro should so just watching that, you can learn from that.
SW: Thank you, Jaden. I appreciate you.
Jaden: I appreciate you. Thank you.
