CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers as a collective unit are looking to bounce back in the 2025-26 season following a failed 2024-25 season that resulted in a 24-58 record. Of course, injuries played a huge role in that record, but it’s motivation for everybody involved to find a way to not let it happen again.

Kelly Oubre Jr., a key piece of this Sixers team, averaged 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 47% from the floor and 29.3% from deep. He also attacked the basket with a lot of reckless abandon as he looked to use his athleticism and length to finish at the basket.

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Coach Nick Nurse has addressed it in the past, but he and the Sixers want Oubre to play with more control. So, Oubre and his trainer, Drew Hanlen, have been working on that aspect of his game.

“Yeah, my trainer Drew and I, we actually attacked that very hard this summer,” Oubre explained. “Just slowing down, because he showed me like a montage of just my low lights from last year, and it was all me just going 100 miles an hour, kind of brainless. So, you know, just working on just slowing the game down, making the proper reads, shooting good shots, not bad shots, and, yeah, just making my game look better because I have the talent, and I have the skill. It’s just about putting it all together and slowing down in order for it to look digestible for fans and everybody else.”

Oubre has a world of talent. He is a real weapon on the offensive end as he can attack off the dribble and into the paint while also being able to stick a jumper. The 29.3% shooting from deep in 2024-25 was bad, but if he can get that up to around 33-to-36%, then the Sixers will be in a much better position. Playing under control and playing within himself will go a long way in doing so.

“So, yeah, that’s a big emphasis still, because that’s the evolution of my game,” Oubre finished. “I’m going into year 11, but I’m still developing, like I’m in year one, which, in my head, I’m always going to be a beginner just to stay a student of the game. So I’m excited.”

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If the Sixers can get a much more poised Oubre in the upcoming season, then they will be in a much better position to win the games when they won’t have the services of Joel Embiid and Paul George.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Kelly Oubre Jr. working on important factor of his game to help Sixers