Sixers rookie Jaden Springer ready for any role the team assigns for him
The Philadelphia 76ers made an interesting choice in the 2021 NBA draft when they selected athletic wing Jaden Springer in with the No. 28 overall pick. The Sixers are in a position of needing more win-now players, but they like Springer’s athleticism and defensive ability.
As he heads into his rookie season with the franchise, Springer will most likely be asked to be a 3-and-D type of player. He can be a guy who can knock down open triples while also being able to lock up some of the tougher scorers in the league on the other end.
Springer sat down with Sixers Wire’s “The Bell Ringer” podcast to discuss what he expects his role to be the season starts. He has yet to have that conversation with coach Doc Rivers, but he expects that conversation to be soon after summer league.
“No, not yet,” said Springer. “Really, like everything happened so fast, and as soon as I get drafted, I’m out here already, so we really haven’t had the time to sit down and talk, but I feel like that will be coming up pretty soon after this.”
As mentioned, the Sixers could use another 3-and-D player on this roster to fit next to the star duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and Springer does feel like he can fill that role for this team. He did shoot 43.5% from deep in his lone freshman season with the Tennessee Volunteers while also averaging 2.9 assists per game so he is ready for whatever role the Sixers give him.
“I feel I can definitely do that,” he added. “I feel like I can lock up on the other end. I can lock up anybody for the most part and I feel like I can knock down a shot, I can be a playmaker so I can just give whatever the team would need me to.”
As far as fitting specifically next to Embiid and Simmons, the rookie is excited about the opportunity and he believes that the star duo can help him just as much as he can help them.
“I feel like I can fit well,” he finished. “I will definitely be able to support those guys. Embiid is probably the best center in the league and you got Ben Simmons, a great passer, a great finisher so being able to play with guys like that will definitely elevate me a lot too.”
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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