Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. gives love to Hornets in return to Charlotte
PHILADELPHIA–New Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. spent the previous two seasons with the Charlotte Hornets where he averaged 17.0 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 33.5% from deep.
After his second season with the Hornets, Oubre Jr. remained unsigned in free agency until late September before the Sixers picked him up on a 1-year deal. In his first season with Philadelphia, he’s averaging 14.5 points and shooting 50.4% from the floor.
As the Sixers get set to take on the Hornets in Charlotte on Saturday, Oubre Jr. gave a lot of love to the organization for his time there.
“My time with the Hornets was actually really love, man,” Oubre Jr. said on Friday. “I built some solid relationships. I was able to build a family out there and support my family out there and it was really slowed down to the pace of my lifestyle before I went there. So I owe a lot of thanks to Charlotte and North Carolina as a whole.”
In terms of what kind of reception he expects in Charlotte, Oubre Jr. isn’t quite sure. He did make some comments on media day that appeared to throw some shade toward the Hornets, but he didn’t mean for it to appear that way.
“I’m not sure, man,” Oubre Jr. said. “Some things that I said at media day, they were just kind of misconstrued, but I went hard for that city. I gave my heart and my soul for two years so I hope it’s love you know? But at the end of the day, I am on the opposing team, and it’s not what they’re used to seeing, right? So I’m gonna go hard. Hopefully, we get that win, man, and continue to just keep this train rolling.”
