Jaden Springer discusses rookie season, goals for 2nd Sixers season
CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers selected Jaden Springer with the 28th pick in the 2021 NBA draft and there weren’t a lot of expectations placed upon him due to the contending team he was picked by.
The 19-year old spent a majority of his rookie season in the G League playing for Philadelphia’s affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. Springer averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 rebounds with 1.5 steals while shooting 46.4% from the floor.
He only played in two games with the Sixers, and he had some garbage time minutes in the playoffs. While some first-round picks might have been upset with that situation, Springer understood what was going on.
“Really just all about reps,” he said. “Just keep playing basketball and some things that I probably wouldn’t have an opportunity to do being here all season. So just going in and working on my game and developing that was probably the biggest thing.”
Springer is right.
There was no way he was going to get the necessary reps he needed if he was with the Sixers all season. He was behind Matisse Thybulle, Danny Green and Furkan Korkmaz on the depth chart, which was going to prevent him from getting the reps needed to develop.
Therefore, his time in the G League, and helping the Blue Coats make a deep playoff run, is something that will help him.
“It was good for me,” Springer added. “I try and take advantage of everything. Just trying to stay positive and that’s really what I did. I went there, we had a great season, so I feel like it paid off for me.”
As he heads into the offseason, Springer will focus on getting stronger and better. He opened up on those goals as he prepares for the summer league in July.
“My goal is to just stay in the lab,” he said. “We’ve got summer league coming up, so getting ready for that and just staying focused. Keep working on my game. That’s the biggest thing.”
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
List
Doc Rivers lays out goals for Paul Reed, other young Sixers on roster
