Rookie Isaiah Joe learning NBA ropes from Sixers’ vets
Joe is averaging 4.7 points and 12.9 minutes while shooting 36.8 % on three-pointers in 17 appearances with one start. Joe scored a career-high 18 points against the Hawks on Jan. 11.
TAMPA, Fla. — For Isaiah Joe, this season is all about learning.
The 76ers guard has shown an ability to make shots and provide solid defense when called upon. However, as a seldom-used rookie on a veteran-laden squad, he’s viewed more as a luxury than a key rotation player.
As a result, he spends a lot of time learning from his older teammates.
“I feel like they all have these [ideas] they can drop down from the guard aspect,” Joe said of the vets, “knowing the spacing, knowing that you have to know, where everybody‘s on the court at all times. And when you have bigs like Joel [Embiid] ... coming in to play his role, you have to know what you are supposed to do on the court and what you are not supposed to.”
In addition, Joe is learning how to keep his confidence up no matter what. The veterans keep him uplifted regardless if he’s missing or making shots. They’ve instilled in him that the only thing that matters is working every day and continuing to grind. They tell him that everything else is just basketball. Nothing changed.
Joe made appearances in the Sixers’ previous four games with sixth man Shake Milton sidelined with a sprained left ankle. While he only made 2 of 10 shots during that time, the 21-year-old Joe has done the intangibles and played solid defense.
The 49th pick in November’s draft is averaging 4.7 points in 12.9 minutes while shooting 36.8% on three-pointers in 17 appearances with one start. Joe scored a career-high 18 points while making 4 of 7 three-pointers against the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 11. That was his first of three straight games with four made three-pointers.