During his two seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Kelly Oubre Jr. became something of a cult favorite - the kind of player who could light up a scoreboard and a crowd in the blink of an eye. Now, Philadelphia 76ers fans are getting a front-row seat to the full Kelly Oubre experience, and they’re starting to understand what Hornets fans came to love - and occasionally scratch their heads over.
Let’s rewind for a second. Between 2021 and 2023, Oubre quietly carved out a significant role in Charlotte.
In his first season, he came off the bench and still managed to be the team’s fifth-leading scorer, averaging 15.0 points per game. That effort earned him a spot in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation, finishing seventh in the voting - not bad for a guy adjusting to a new system and role.
The following year, Oubre’s responsibilities grew. With Miles Bridges out of the picture and LaMelo Ball limited to just 36 games, Oubre stepped into the void and delivered. He started most nights and upped his scoring to 20.1 points per game, proving he could handle a bigger load when called upon.
But Oubre was never just about the box score. He brought flair, emotion, and unpredictability - in the best and sometimes most maddening ways.
Hornets fans embraced that rollercoaster. He played with visible joy, and when he got hot, he could take over a game in a way few role players can.
Case in point: January 5, 2022. Oubre caught fire and hit a then-career-high nine threes against the Pistons, igniting the Spectrum Center crowd and giving fans one of the most memorable performances of the season.
Eric Collins’ iconic “from Sardis Road!” call still echoes in Charlotte lore.
That was pure Oubre - the kind of night where he looked like the most dangerous man on the court.
Of course, the flip side was always there too. There were nights when he’d play 30 minutes and finish with five points.
That’s the nature of a streaky scorer - you take the highs with the lows. But even on off nights, his energy and presence rarely went unnoticed.
Now in Philadelphia, that same volatility is both a challenge and a weapon. Oubre has stepped up in key moments, especially with other key players in and out of the Sixers’ lineup. He’s brought shot creation, defensive effort, and that same unpredictable spark that made him a fan favorite in Charlotte.
He’s the kind of player who can swing a game when the offense stalls or when the team needs a jolt of energy. That’s the value of a player like Oubre - he’s an X-factor. You may not always know what you're going to get, but when he’s on, he can shift momentum in a heartbeat.
For contenders, that kind of wild card can be the difference between a win and a loss, or even a deep playoff run and an early exit. Volatility is part of the deal, but so is the upside. And when the moment calls for it, Kelly Oubre Jr. has shown time and again that he’s capable of delivering something special.