Nick Nurse admits to having “ worry ” for him. He didn't really know where Kelly Oubre Jr. would be to keep up with the Sixers, traveling to Washington. His player, absent three weeks after being hit by a car, quickly reassured him.
Author of an easy dunk at the end of the first quarter, while the Wizards' defense was focused on Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the Philadelphia winger especially had a significant impact in the last period. A tap dunk, another dunk on the counter-attack, a 3-point shot in the corner… He did a lot of good for his team as the final moments approached.
“ His second half was incredible, he was kind of a spark with a lot of things. By going to the rim, with his offensive rebounds, by playing with his athleticism… I think he was really a key contributor coming off the bench “, greets his coachwho did not know what his rotations would be like after the break.
“ The key word is rhythm. I was able to keep up with everyone else and never looked back. This game is all about rhythm and flow, everyone is somewhat connected. I think in the fourth, we found our rhythm, and it showed », Remarks the winger, author of 12 points (5/8 on shots) and 3 rebounds in 19 minutes.
In managing emotions
This return to the game, facing his former team moreover, how did he experience it? The player who started in Washington speaks of a “ incredible feeling. It's a blessing. I've been on the couch, in rehab centers and things like that for the last month. It's an extraordinary feeling. And above all, after experiencing something pretty crazy in my life, playing basketball puts things back in order. This is what I do and what I love to do », Appreciates Kelly Oubre Jr. who, earlier, was annoyed by those who speculated about his accident.
He says he had to control his emotions related to this return. “ The adrenaline has taken over, so I'll probably have some aches later when I go to sleep, but I feel really good », Continues the winger, who thanks the entire Sixers medical team. While welcoming the new gargantuan performance of his teammate, Joel Embiid, author of 50 points.
“ We have a guy who can potentially score 75 points! JoJo carried us, allowed us to settle in and know that he is with us when we are feeling peckish. But when he's not in the game, it's time to step up, and I think that's what we did tonight », concludes Kelly Oubre Jr.
| Kelly Oubre, Jr. | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | W.A.S. | 63 | 11 | 42.7 | 31.6 | 63.3 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 3.8 |
| 2016-17 | W.A.S. | 79 | 20 | 42.1 | 28.7 | 75.8 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 6.3 |
| 2017-18 | W.A.S. | 81 | 28 | 40.3 | 34.1 | 82.0 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 11.8 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 69 | 28 | 44.5 | 32.0 | 77.5 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 15.2 |
| 2018-19 * | PHX | 40 | 30 | 45.3 | 32.5 | 76.1 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 16.9 |
| 2018-19 * | W.A.S. | 29 | 26 | 43.3 | 31.1 | 80.0 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 12.9 |
| 2019-20 | PHX | 56 | 35 | 45.2 | 35.2 | 78.0 | 1.2 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 18.7 |
| 2020-21 | GOS | 55 | 31 | 43.9 | 31.6 | 69.5 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 15.4 |
| 2021-22 | CHA | 76 | 26 | 44.0 | 34.5 | 66.7 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 15.0 |
| 2022-23 | CHA | 48 | 32 | 43.1 | 31.9 | 76.0 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 20.3 |
| 2023-24 | PHL | 8 | 29 | 50.0 | 37.8 | 78.6 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 5.1 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 16.3 |
| Total | 535 | 26 | 43.5 | 33.0 | 75.2 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 12.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
