CAMDEN, N.J. — As the Philadelphia 76ers move forward in this big break in the schedule due to the NBA Cup, the goal and hope is to get everybody back healthy and push them forward in the 2025-26 season. The Sixers have been missing key wing players Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford recently due to injuries so that’s something coach Nick Nurse and Co. are still working through.
As the Sixers got back to work for their first official practice during this time off, Nurse gave the latest on both Oubre and Watford as there isn’t much progression there, but he is round the team.
Advertisement
“Nope,” Nurse said of Oubre and Watford being able to do anything at practice. “I mean, they’re on the court doing individual stuff, but not on the court with the team.”
The “individual stuff” they both did wasn’t much. It appears that Oubre and Watford are still a ways away from any real work toward a return.
As for Joel Embiid and Paul George, this time off gives both stars an opportunity to get in the gym and get their work in. The Sixers need both players to find their rhythm on the offensive end and that is what Nurse is hoping for as time moves on.
“I think they’re really good for those guys,” Nurse said of the days off for Embiid and George. “I think they really give them a chance to, again, I think we have a number of guys. Obviously, those two guys probably are at the top of the list that are still looking for rhythm/conditioning, but more so probably rhythm. I think it’s always a combination of those two things and they had two good days.”
Advertisement
Then, there’s Andre Drummond who suffered a right knee injury in a Nov. 28 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He hasn’t missed any time, but his level of play has dropped a bit. Nurse has noticed it and gave his thoughts on Drummond as the Sixers move forward.
“I don’t think it’s certainly been as good and I think that’s probably part of it,” Nurse said of Drummond’s knee. “He’s tried to play through not being 100% which we’ll give him credit for. Again, I think he’s gotten used to, in a long stretch, as a 30-to-35-minute-a-night guy, and all of a sudden, it’s a little choppy for him. I think everybody has to get back in that different rhythm.”
As players return from injury, minutes are going to fluctuate and change. Nurse knows it and he believes that’s what’s happening with Drummond and other Sixers up and down the roster.
“Not just him, but it affects everybody, but everybody’s gotta get used to being who they are whether it’s a 2-minute stint or a 12-minute stint or a 12-minute night or a 35-minute night,” Nurse finished. “Try to continue to bring all you can bring.”
The Sixers play host to the Indiana Pacers on Friday.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers injury news: Latest on Kelly Oubre Jr., others amid days off