Kelly Oubre Jr. still finding comfort level amid success with Sixers
CAMDEN, N.J.–New Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. has been a terrific piece to the Sixers in the very early stages of the season. He’s averaging 20.0 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 52.9% from the floor and 45.5% from deep through the first four games.
In Thursday’s home win over the Toronto Raptors, Oubre Jr. scored 23 points while shooting 5-for-6 from deep while starting in place of PJ Tucker who was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers in the James Harden deal.
“He’s been really good,” said coach Nick Nurse. “I think Kelly, he’s certainly–he scored 20 points a game last year, I know people say ‘ah you know it’s empty’ so the capability to drive and shoot is there. Again, I think his athleticism, and he’s got a high compete level, he’s competing at both ends.”
While Oubre Jr. has had some obvious success with the Sixers, he is still working his way through and trying to find his niche and comfort level with his new team.
“Still trying to figure it out,” he admitted. “I’ve been here for two months so playing with guys who have been playing together for five, six years, right? It’s a process, but at the end of the day, I trust it and we here.”
While expanding on what needs to be worked on and what he has discovered during his short time with the Sixers, he went into the terminology on offense as well as having to play off Joel Embiid.
“Terminology and playing with the best big man in the game,” he explained. “That’s definitely a change because he occupies so much attention on the court. You gotta really find out what those open slots are, those open gaps, and shoot the ball when you’re wide-open and help him.”
Playing with Embiid can be a challenge for some. New additions have to figure out where he likes the ball and then where to cut in order to get easy looks as well as help him out on the offensive end when the time calls for it. Oubre Jr. has continued to take steps in that direction for the Sixers.
“It’s kinda different because I never played with a guy of his caliber, but at the end of the day, it’s fun,” Oubre Jr. said. “It opens up. I lick my chops whenever I see people getting double-teamed because that means somebody’s gonna be open, right? And I wanna be that person so it’s fun and I’m excited to continue to grow.”
