Category: Philadelphia 76ers Blog

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Sixers sign Jeff Dowtin Jr. to two-way contract

The Philadelphia 76ers recently signed Jeff Dowtin Jr. to a two-way contract.

Dowtin Jr. recently played in seven summer-league games with the 76ers between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, averaging of 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a team-best 5.7 assists. He tallied at least 15 points in each of his seven summer contests, including a trio of 18-point games.

In Salt Lake City, Dowtin Jr. averaged 17.0 points and 5.3 assists, making him one of four players to average at least 15 points and five assists.

Originally joining the 76ers via a two-way contract on March 2 of last season before signing a standard NBA contract with the franchise on April 4, Dowtin Jr. produced a career-best 4.3 points on 55.6-percent shooting (47.4% 3FG), 1.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 12 games. The Rhode Island product scored a career-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting (2-3 3FG) at Phoenix on March 20, while dishing out a career-best six assists on two separate occasions.

Sixers re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr.

The Philadelphia 76ers last week re-signed Kelly Oubre Jr.

“Kelly was one of our most important contributors last season, bringing physicality, energy, and toughness to the table on a nightly basis,” Morey said. “We’re excited to have him back and believe he’ll play a key role in our pursuit of a championship.”

Originally signing with Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2023, Oubre Jr. boasted the highest offensive rating of his career (114.1) in 68 games (52 starts) with the 76ers last season. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per contest, tallying four double-doubles and reaching the 20-point mark on 19 occasions.

Tyrese Maxey wins 2023-24 NBA Sportsmanship Award

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is the recipient of the Joe Dumars Trophy for winning the 2023-24 NBA Sportsmanship Award. Maxey has earned the honor for the first time and becomes the second player to win the award with the 76ers, joining Eric Snow (1999-00).

Presented annually since the 1995-96 season, the NBA Sportsmanship Award honors a player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. The trophy is named for Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion Joe Dumars, who won the inaugural NBA Sportsmanship Award and played his entire 14-year career with the Detroit Pistons.

Each NBA team nominated one of its players for the 2023-24 NBA Sportsmanship Award. From the list of 30 team nominees, a panel of league executives selected one finalist from each of the NBA’s six divisions. Current NBA players selected the winner from the list of six finalists.

A four-year NBA veteran, Maxey won the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award and earned his first NBA All-Star selection for his performance in the 2023-24 regular season.

Tyrese Maxey wins 2023-24 NBA Most Improved Player award

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Tyrese Maxey has been named the 2023-24 NBA Most Improved Player. Maxey becomes the second player in franchise history to earn the honor, joining Dana Barros in 1994-95.

“Congratulations, Tyrese! The Most Improved Player award is a testament to your incredible work ethic including countless early mornings in the gym perfecting your craft,” Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said. “Your journey to All-Star in just your fourth season is inspirational to everyone who watches you play. Your dedication to continuous improvement and excellence has you on the path from MIP to MVP.”

In his fourth NBA season, Maxey’s statistical leap included becoming a top-11 scorer in the NBA as his average jumped from 20.3 in 2022-23 to 25.9 in 2023-24. Maxey also boosted his rebounding average to 3.7, assists to 6.2, and steals to 1.0, with each mark representing a career high.

Sixers sign Ricky Council IV to standard NBA contract

The Philadelphia 76ers yesterday signed Ricky Council IV to a standard NBA contract.

Originally signed to a two-way contract prior to this season, Council IV has appeared in 31 games as a rookie with the 76ers, averaging 5.5 points on 48.2-percent shooting and 1.4 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game. He has logged at least 10 minutes of action in 11 of his 31 appearances, producing 10.5 points on 54.2-percent shooting in those contests.

Council IV has tallied at least 10 points on eight occasions, including a career-best 19-point, 10-rebound performance at Washington on Feb 10. He became the seventh rookie in franchise history – and the first since Dario Šarić in 2017 – to produce at least 19 points and 10 boards off the bench.

In 27 games with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, Council IV recorded 23.8 points on 47.3-percent shooting, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He reached the 30-point mark on five occasions and connected on at least three triples 12 times.

Last season, Council IV appeared in 36 games (29 starts) collegiately for the University of Arkansas, where he ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference with a team-high 16.1 points to go along with 3.6 rebounds. The All-SEC Second Team selection scored in double figures in 31 of his appearances this season.

76ers sign Jeff Dowtin Jr. to two-way contract

The Philadelphia 76ers this past Saturday signed Jeff Dowtin Jr. to a two-way contract.

In 16 G League games this season with the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers’ affiliate, he is averaging 18.1 points (38.4% 3FG), 3.1 rebounds, and a team-leading 5.9 assists per game. Dowtin Jr. is coming off a 25-point outing (9-17 FG, 4-8 3FG) against Greensboro on March 1, marking his fourth 20-point performance in his last five games.

A two-year pro, Dowtin Jr. holds averages of 2.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and, 1.2 assists in 10.8 minutes per game across 34 contests with Orlando, Milwaukee, Golden State, and Toronto. Dowtin Jr. originally signed with the G League’s Lakeland Magic following the 2020 NBA Draft, helping the team to the 2021 NBA G League title. He made his NBA debut the ensuing season with Golden State on Nov. 3, 2021.

A Washington D.C.-area native, Dowtin Jr. spent four seasons playing collegiately at Rhode Island. As a senior in 2019-20, he posted 13.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 35.6 minutes per game across 29 contests (all starts). The Rams appeared in two NCAA Tournaments during Dowtin Jr.’s tenure (2017 and 2018).

Dowtin Jr. will wear No. 11 with the 76ers.

76ers sign Kyle Lowry

The Philadelphia 76ers recently (Tuesday, February 13) signed veteran guard Kyle Lowry.

In his 18th NBA season, Lowry holds career averages of 14.4 points (36.8% 3FG), 4.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 31.7 minutes per game across 1,115 outings (866 starts) with Memphis, Houston, Toronto, and Miami. Lowry ranks in the top-10 among active players in assists (fifth, 6,897), three-pointers made (seventh, 2,140), steals (eighth, 1,446) and triple-doubles (10th, 21).

Originally from North Philadelphia, Lowry’s decorated basketball career includes an Olympic gold medal (2016), six NBA All-Star appearances (2015-20), an All-NBA Third Team selection (2015-16), and the 2019 NBA championship. During Toronto’s run to the title in 2019, Lowry started each of the Raptors’ 24 playoff games for Head Coach Nick Nurse, averaging 15.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 37.5 minutes per game.

Through 37 appearances (35 starts) with Miami in 2023-24, Lowry is averaging 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals in 28.0 minutes per contest. He posted a season-high 28 points (9-15 FG, 7-10 3FG) on Nov. 22 against Cleveland.

Prior to being selected by Memphis with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Lowry played collegiately at Villanova for two seasons (2004-06). He helped lead the Wildcats to two NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2005 and the Elite Eight the following year. He was named 2005 Philadelphia Big Five Rookie of the Year. As a sophomore, he was named to the All-Big East Second Team. Lowry’s No. 1 was retired by the school in Feb. 2020. Prior to his time at Villanova, Lowry starred at both Northeast and Cardinal Dougherty High Schools.

Lowry will wear No. 7 for Philadelphia. Mo Bamba will now wear No. 5.

76ers trade Jaden Springer to Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers have acquired a 2024 second-round draft pick (more favorable of Chicago and New Orleans) in a trade with the Boston Celtics for Jaden Springer.

Springer (6-4, 204) has appeared in 50 career NBA games since being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 28th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The 6-4 guard owns career averages of 3.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game while shooting 41.6 percent from the field, and has seen action in nine playoff games, tallying 15 points in 30 minutes. The Charlotte, North Carolina native is averaging career-highs across the board with 4.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 32 games this season.

Over two seasons with the 76ers G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coasts, Springer averaged 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.0 steals in 43 games from 2021-2023. Springer was named the NBA G League Finals MVP in 2023 after helping Delaware capture its first-ever G League Championship.

The 2021 SEC All-Freshman Team honoree led Tennessee in scoring with 12.5 points per game in his lone collegiate season, and averaged 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals in 25 games (15 starts). Springer led the Volunteers in three-point percentage (20-46, .435) and total free throws made (81), while his 81.0 free-throw percentage ranked ninth among SEC players, and stands as the highest percentage by a freshman in program history (min.100 attempts).

76ers trade Patrick Beverley to Bucks for Cameron Payne, draft pick

The Philadelphia 76ers have acquired Cameron Payne and Milwaukee’s 2027 second-round pick in a trade with the Bucks. In exchange, the 76ers traded Patrick Beverley to Milwaukee.

Payne has appeared in 47 games with Milwaukee this season, averaging 6.2 points and 2.3 assists, while shooting 45.5-percent from the field and 39.7-percent from three-point range. He has scored in double figures 13 times, including a season-best 18 points on two occasions (Dec. 2 vs. Atlanta; Dec. 27 at Brooklyn).

Overall, Payne has played in 374 NBA career games (58 starts) across seven-plus seasons with Oklahoma City, Chicago, Cleveland, Phoenix, and Milwaukee. He holds lifetime averages of 7.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 36.7-percent from three-point range. In 2020-21, Payne shot 44.0-percent from beyond the arc, finishing the season 10th in the NBA.

Originally selected by Oklahoma City with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Payne starred collegiately at Murray State. He earned All-OVC First Team honors in each of his two seasons with the Racers, while averaging a conference-best 20.2 points per contest as a sophomore.

Beverley averaged 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists with Philadelphia after signing as a free agent this past offseason.

76ers trade Danuel House Jr. to Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have acquired guard/forward Danuel House Jr., a 2024 second round draft pick and cash considerations in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers for future 2028 second round draft pick.

House, 6-6, 220, has averaged 7.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 294 career NBA games with Washington, Phoenix, Houston, New York, Utah and Philadelphia. House went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft and signed as a free agent with the Wizards. He averaged career highs of 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds during the 2019-20 season with the Rockets.

A Texas native, House played his first two collegiate seasons at the University of Houston before transferring to Texas A&M where he led the Aggies in scoring in his final two seasons. House averaged 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists for his college career and earned honorable mention All-American honors by the Associated Press as a senior.