Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. is trying to be ‘water’ while playing within the flow of each game
Oubre, who looks comfortable in the preseason for the Sixers, finished with a game-high 18 points while playing only in the first half Wednesday against the Nets.
Kelly Oubre Jr.’s role a season ago was to remain aggressive while playing off of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
How does the 76ers guard envision his role this season?
“I don’t know, man,” he said. “I just try to be water. I just go with the flow of each game. You guys know what I can do.”
Oubre has shown that he can play with or without the ball in his hands.
» READ MORE: KJ Martin, Kelly Oubre Jr. lead undermanned Sixers to a preseason rout over Brooklyn Nets
“At the end of the day, I just want to kind of flow with everybody,” Oubre said. “If anybody needs help or if I need to be a secondary ball handler, I can do that as well. So just being able to be Coach’s Swiss army knife is kind of what I want to do.
“I’m just happy to be one of the guys that we got and happy to be here.”
The Sixers have given the sense that they feel the same way.
Oubre could be the team’s most impactful player outside of the big three of Embiid, Maxey and Paul George. He finished with a game-high 18 points on 5-for-8 shooting — going 2-of-3 on three-pointers — Wednesday in a 117-95 preseason win over the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center. Like most of the starters, Oubre played only in the first half.
» READ MORE: Sixers rookie Jared McCain being evaluated for a concussion after hard fall in preseason game vs. Nets
The 6-foot-7, 203-pounder is averaging 13.5 points and shooting 51.5% while playing in four of the Sixers’ five preseason games. His 54 total points rank third on the team behind Jared McCain (64) and Maxey (57).
The nine-year veteran averaged 15.4 points last season, his first with the Sixers.
Oubre, who has played for five NBA teams, looks more comfortable this preseason than any other season during his career.
“The one thing I do is I’m going to always be myself,” he said. “I know that I have to play a role. I don’t consider myself a role player. I just consider myself as that extra piece. So I just try to flow. I want to be one of those guys, of course. So I just want to show I fit well with any of those guys that I’m put [in the lineup] with.”
With that said, Oubre knows his role will become clearer over time.
But the 28-year-old has matured over the years, as has his game. So the days of going up and down the court at 100 mph are a thing of the past. Now he’s trying to pick up tips from George, who can play with pace and slow it down.
» READ MORE: Nick Nurse, Iowa’s favorite son, returns to the state that shaped him as a champion and citizen of the world
Oubre is also aware that Embiid can score at will, while Maxey is “super fast” and can slow it down, too.
On nights when at least one of the big three is off, Oubre expects to be asked to help carry the offensive load. But when all three are available, his job will include roaming around, crashing the boards and also being a space setter.
“I’m here for that, man,” he said. “I’m just here to be whatever they need me to be that night. And you know it’s going to be a long season, so it’s going to change a lot. But change is OK.”