With Philadelphia scrambling through a thin frontcourt, Jabari Walker has been the rare preseason bright spot.
The second-year 76er has made a strong early case for himself through three exhibition games, giving Nick Nurse a useful option at a position group that has been stretched in every direction. Walker is not expected to open the season as the team’s primary backup center, but he has done enough to push his way into that conversation.
He has piled up two double-figure scoring nights already and brought more than just points to the floor. Walker is averaging 11 points on 48% shooting and eight rebounds per game while handling what has become a much bigger interior role than anyone likely planned. In practical terms, he has been playing a lot of center for Philadelphia.
That opportunity has come because of the state of the 76ers’ big-man rotation. Joel Embiid has appeared in only one game.
Adem Bona, who is dealing with a left foot sprain, and Tacko Fall, who has a left hip strain, have not debuted. Ariel Hukporti suffered a season-ending right Achilles injury against the Knicks on October 5.
Walker has shown why the team brought him in on a two-way contract on July 5, 2025. He has hit 38.5% of his threes on 4.8 attempts per game, and that shooting has shown up in the kinds of actions Philadelphia can actually build around with him.
He has been effective on pick-and-pops and catch-and-shoot looks, including a successful pick-and-pop with VJ Edgecombe in the 76ers’ 120-97 win against New York. That matters because Nick Nurse may stagger Edgecombe in a lot of second-unit lineups.
He has also proved he can work inside the arc. In Philadelphia’s 144-106 loss to the Celtics on October 10, Walker found a rhythm with Labaron Philon Jr., who assisted on four of his 14 points.
Philon set him up diving to the rim in transition and also found him on baseline cuts against Boston’s zone. That kind of off-ball value is exactly what this roster can use.
The physical part of his game has stood out, too. Walker has shown he can finish through contact, and that helped him draw an and-one against the Celtics.
He has done damage on the offensive glass as well. Walker is averaging a team-high 1.7 offensive rebounds per game, and several of those chances have turned directly into points. That kind of work is especially useful for a Philadelphia team that ranked 17th in rebounds per game last year.
Still, there are limits. At 6-foot-7, Walker can only do so much against bigger frontcourts. He fouled out while trying to battle Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta, both 7-footers, and Boston controlled the glass in a major way, out-rebounding Philadelphia 63-34 with 19 offensive rebounds.
That’s the balance Nurse is weighing. Playing Walker means giving up some size and rim protection, but it also brings spacing and defensive versatility.
Philadelphia does not need him to be its top backup center. It just needs him to be reliable.
There is at least some more frontcourt help potentially on the way. The Sixers said Adem Bona and Anfernee Simons were partial participants in practice, and Nurse said Monday afternoon that Bona had taken part on a limited basis. Embiid’s status still has not been announced.
Walker’s next chance to keep building his case comes in Philadelphia’s preseason finale against Boston on Friday.
In Other News...
LeBron Is Already Changing Something Big Inside The Sixers
LeBron James has already started leaving a mark inside the 76ers locker room, and for Jabari Walker, the biggest surprise has been how quickly that presence has translated into everyday leadership. After Philadelphias 2026 offseason additions, Walker described James as more than just another big name in the room, pointing to the way he carries himself and the respect he draws from teammates.
Walkers takeaway was simple: James has a different kind of influence. He has played alongside elite stars before, but this one stands out for the way it changes the tone around the team and gives Philadelphia a new voice as it tries to build something meaningful. The full effect of that dynamic is still unfolding, but it is already hard to miss inside the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Labaron Philon Jr. Is Giving The Sixers A Reason To Believe
Labaron Philon Jr. has spent the preseason doing exactly what a young guard is supposed to do when a team is looking for answers: make the ball move, keep the offense organized and show he belongs. The rookie has flashed real playmaking upside, and his recent work included a strong outing with 14 points and 7 assists in 25 minutes, the kind of line that catches attention even in October. For Philadelphia, that matters because the backcourt has been searching for someone who can help steady the second unit and ease some of the creation load that falls so heavily on Tyrese Maxey.
Philons path to minutes was never supposed to be this direct, but the Sixers do not have many natural floor generals on the roster, and that reality can accelerate a players timeline fast. Drafted 22nd overall, he is already making a case that his feel for the game can translate sooner than expected, giving the coaching staff something it badly needs: a reserve option who can bring a little tactical stability when the starters sit. The bigger question now is whether that preseason promise holds once the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Frontcourt Battle Just Got Murkier Before The Season Opens
The Sixers preseason frontcourt picture has become a little harder to read with Dominick Barlow still sidelined by back soreness and short on chances to build momentum before the games start to matter. He has been limited throughout camp and has yet to appear in a preseason game, which leaves him racing the clock as the exhibition schedule winds down and the regular season approaches.
Barlow is not the only big man whose availability has been in flux, either, which only adds to the uncertainty around Philadelphias depth in the paint. Adem Bona is still working through a foot injury, while Ariel Hukporti has already been hit by an Achilles injury, leaving the Sixers with more questions than answers as they try to sort out the frontcourt rotation. [Read more 🡒]