Kelly Oubre Jr. clicks into complementary role as Sixers surge and start road to recovery

Tyrese Maxey’s first career triple-double was worthy of receiving the game ball following the 76ers’ Sunday victory over the Chicago Bulls. And Joel Embiid’s masterful second quarter was a reminder of the former MVP’s ability to methodically dominate.

Yet Kelly Oubre Jr.’s third quarter was an underrated point of encouragement for a Sixers team that, following a dreadful start to the season, has won four of its last five games. Oubre grabbed six rebounds during that frame, including two in less than a minute of game action, that helped the Sixers push their lead to a game-high 19 points. That fueled Oubre’s second consecutive double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds), which also included three steals and an efficient 3-of-6 shooting mark from the floor and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.

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His outing was also an example of how the Sixers’ intended complementary roles click into place with Embiid, Maxey, and star newcomer Paul George all relatively healthy.

“Just trying to do what I can and impact the game,” Oubre said at his locker after the game. “There’s so much talent out there. We had Jo back, and ‘Rese got his groove, and Paul was hot early. Just trying to find my niche out there and just keep the energy alive, keep possessions alive. Because that gives us all opportunities to be successful.”

The rest of the Sixers’ rotation finally appears to be rounding into form as well. Rookie Jared McCain found success playing off that All-Star trio Sunday instead of as a need-to-score guard, totaling 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting from long range and starting the second half against the Bulls’ smaller lineup. KJ Martin has been wildly athletic and efficient, shooting 64.5% from the floor this season, including making 12 of his last 13 shots over two games. Guerschon Yabusele remains a versatile big man who can play power forward or center, while starting or coming off the bench. Andre Drummond is the prototypical big-bodied center, and veteran guard Kyle Lowry has played about 12 minutes in each of his three games since returning from a hip injury.

Coach Nick Nurse had evidence that Oubre could thrive alongside Embiid following the wing’s resurgent 2023-24 season, when he went from late free-agency pickup on a veteran minimum contract to earning a two-year deal in a celebrated return to Philly. He worked on becoming more of a playmaker as last season progressed, totaling three or more assists in 10 of his final 22 regular-season games. He took pride in guarding New York Knicks MVP contender Jalen Brunson during their first-round playoff series. Then he got back to his typical offseason regimen with Drew Hanlen, his longtime trainer who also works with Embiid and Maxey.

But like the Sixers, Oubre sputtered at the start of this season. In his first 10 games, he shot 39% from the floor and 24.5% from three-point range. Oubre is one of only three Sixers to play in all 22 games so far. Teammates shifted around him — and he occasionally moved to a bench role — as Nurse experimented with lineup combinations.

Now, the coach says, Oubre is making “way better choices” when the ball finds him.

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His supreme athleticism means he is always a threat to put his head down and drive to the basket, and he has been known to bomb away from long range. Recently, though, Nurse said Oubre has gotten back to better reading plays — and still knocking down open shots even when they seemingly only come “every 18 minutes,” like Sunday in Chicago. In nine games since Nov. 20, Oubre is shooting 51.9% on an average of nine field-goal attempts, and 40.5% on an average of 4.1 three-point attempts.

“If something happens, he’s getting settled in and he’s passing it out,” Nurse said of Oubre. “And when there is a lane there, he takes it.”

The past two games, meanwhile, have been Oubre’s first double-digit rebounding efforts of the season.

That was a team-wide focus following last Wednesday’s loss to the Orlando Magic, he said. But Oubre stood up to that size during Friday’s rematch, then looked to set up teammates in transition in arguably the Sixers’ most impressive victory of the season. On Sunday, his mindset was then to “hunt the ball” against the more undersized Bulls. Two of his offensive rebounds led to third-quarter three-pointers from teammates, helping the Sixers increase their double-digit lead. Oubre was also rewarded for a defensive board when Maxey lofted a lob to him for an alley-oop slam.

“No matter if somebody steps in front of you, tries to block you out,” Oubre said, “use one move or two moves to be quicker than them. … I just wanted the ball.”

Oubre, who celebrated his 29th birthday Monday, has never lacked self-confidence and flash during his 10 NBA seasons. Perhaps that’s why, when asked Sunday about what has keyed his recent strong play, he said, “I still don’t feel like I’m doing what I’m used to doing.”

But he also calls himself a “big flow guy.” On Sunday, that led him into a performance his coach called a “really great role-playing job” and “12 points and a great game.” That has provided underrated fuel to the Sixers’ recent surge.

“If I [think I] need to go, go, go, I probably need to slow down a little bit and be still,” Oubre said. “It’s helping me kind of be a better person, all in all. Not necessarily trying to be thirsty and go get what I feel like I deserve, but letting it come to me.”