After a standout season with the Sixers last year, how can Kelly Oubre Jr. keep it going through 2024-25?
Few players in the NBA overplayed their contract as much as Kelly Oubre Jr. did last season. On a minimum deal, Oubre became a key player for the Sixers pretty much from the get go. He had something to prove, and he delivered.
Oubre started 52 of his 68 regular season games for the Sixers last season, averaging 15.4 points, five rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks in 30.2 minutes. With that level of production and everything he brought to the table at both ends of the floor, it looked likely that Oubre would simply be too expensive for the Sixers to keep in free agency this summer. Fortunately for Philly, they managed to re-sign him for a well-earned (and still team-friendly) raise with a two-year, $16.3 million deal.
For a team that had desperately needed improved wing play and a jolt of athleticism, Oubre brought something they were missing. Sure, he may not be a particularly efficient three-point shooter and can take some ill-advised shots sometimes. But unlike certain other forwards on the team at the time, Oubre being willing to attack, stay aggressive, drive to the basket with purpose, and try to dunk whenever he could was a breath of fresh air.
He also made some improvements as the season went on, too (despite a bit of a shooting slump in January and February). He started trading some unnecessary jumpers for more assertive drives (finishing the season making a highly efficient 69.3 percent of his shots within three feet), getting to the free throw line even more, upping his defensive intensity, and even passing better with more nifty dump-offs under the basket and kick-outs from his drives.
His defensive versatility will continue being a helpful asset next season as well. The 6-foot-7 Oubre can not only cover wings but also bother smaller guards. This proved particularly useful in the playoffs when he had plenty of rock-solid possessions defending Jalen Brunson.
Kelly Oubre’s defense was a real positive for the Sixers in Game 1.
He finished with 5 steals, 1 block, and did a good job using his size, length and physicality when guarding Jalen Brunson. Plenty of disruptive plays with active hands and good shots contests. pic.twitter.com/BRH4ToV8hc
— Tom West (@TomWestNBA) April 21, 2024
There’ll be potential for Nick Nurse to utilize wing-heavy lineups with the Sixers’ new roster in ways he couldn’t to the same level last season, and employ more switching as a result.
Moving forward, Oubre’s role shouldn’t change too much. While Paul George and (probably) Caleb Martin will be entering the starting lineup, the Sixers could still maintain a bunch of size, athleticism and versatility by keeping Oubre in the lineup. The Sixers won’t need as much scoring from Oubre on a nightly basis if he’s only the fourth or fifth option, and that’s ok. He showed last season that he’s capable of scaling his role up or down. He can focus on helping defensively and providing complementary offense (like decisive drives when he gets the ball or just running out in transition), or handle the ball more when needed.
Another benefit for the Sixers and Oubre is that he’ll have more help on the wing defensively, with the arrivals of Martin and George. Even though losing Nicolas Batum and his exceptionally versatile defense hurts, the Sixers still have more wing defenders now and won’t need to ask as much of Oubre at that end of the floor each night when their bevy of wing talent can share the load.
Moving forward, it’s fair to question whether Oubre can maintain the highs from last season through 2024-25, and continue being a steadier two-way player than he often has earlier in his career. He did so many things well last year, so can he keep it up?
Time will tell, but he’s clearly enjoyed his time with this team and proved what he’s capable of with the right mindset.
The Sixers don’t need tons from Oubre either. They have more offensive firepower with George, more wing depth, and guys to support Oubre on the wing defensively. Kelly is still on an affordable contract and offers skills and athleticism the Sixers need at both ends of the floor. He should continue playing a fairly significant role and can adjust his usage a little as needed. It wouldn’t be surprising for Oubre to keep delivering as a Sixers fan favorite.