Jabari Walker is staring at the kind of opening that can change a season fast.
The 76ers did not exactly plan for him to be central to the rotation, but that is where things stand now. With Philadelphia still battling injuries across its backup big-man group, the 24-year-old has a real chance to carve out a lasting spot as the team’s primary reserve center.
The numbers behind the problem are plain enough. Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow, and Tacko Fall are all injured and/or sidelined, leaving the 76ers thin at center whenever Joel Embiid sits or is unavailable. That puts Walker in a key position, since he is the only fully healthy big man on the roster right now.
Walker already gave the organization a reason to keep him around. After a surprisingly solid stint with the franchise last season, the front office brought him back, and he followed that with a strong preseason in which he produced consistently from night to night.
The regular season has not brought a bigger workload yet. Through five appearances, he has averaged just eight minutes per game, but he has still looked reliable in those short stretches. His defense, rebounding, and ability to offer some perimeter value have all stood out.
For now, the coaching staff has leaned on small-ball looks to get through the minutes without Embiid, with Dean Wade and LeBron James often serving as the nominal center. Even so, Walker appears likely to get serious consideration for that job moving forward.
If he can provide the kind of three-and-D impact the team needs at center, he could force his way into a more permanent role as the backup big. That opportunity becomes even more important with Bona now injured, especially since he had already been uneven before the setback. The preferred option for the staff has not been steady enough, and the 76ers are operating under a strict win-now edict.
Walker has the chance to turn all of that into something bigger. If he can seize this stretch, he could give himself a stable role with Philadelphia and strengthen his case as a legitimate role player in the league.
In Other News...
Sixers Leave Chicago With A Bigger Concern Than The Win
The Sixers left Chicago with another win in hand, but the bigger takeaway from a 127-121 finish was how much they had to lean on a short-handed rotation to get there. Philadelphia closed out a 2-1 road trip and moved to 9-2, with Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James all topping 20 points while Joel Embiid chipped in 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Even with the result secured, the way the game unfolded offered a reminder of how thin the margin can be when injuries start piling up. Philadelphia had to survive a late Bulls push in the final minutes, and the fact that the Sixers needed so much from their top names just to hold on may matter more than the standings column for now. [Read more 🡒]
Two Former 76ers Camp Hopefuls Just Made Phillys Two-Way Call Look Tough
The Delaware Blue Coats opened their season with an eye-catching 147-point outburst against the Capital City Go-Go, and the biggest reason was a pair of familiar names to anyone who followed 76ers training camp. Jameer Nelson Jr. poured in a game-high 39 points while also filling the box score with assists, rebounds and steals, and Saint Thomas matched him with 39 points of his own.
Thomas added 10 rebounds for a double-double, giving the Blue Coats a front-line presence to go with the scoring barrage. For the 76ers, it was a reminder that the two-way competition in camp was not an easy call, because both players showed the kind of production that can make a team look twice at what it passed on. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Suddenly Face Two Rotation Questions Against Philly
Chicago is heading into its matchup with Philadelphia with its frontcourt and wing depth still in flux, even as help is on the way. Nic Claxton is expected to make his Bulls debut after missing time with a hamstring injury, though he will be on a minutes restriction, while Jalen Smith is listed as probable despite dealing with a finger issue.
The Bulls also have a pair of rotation spots hanging in the balance, with Norman Powell questionable because of a shoulder injury and Tobe Awaka questionable with an MCL issue. Zach Collins and Dailyn Swain have already been ruled out, leaving Chicago to sort through a patchwork lineup before facing a 76ers team that can punish any thin bench in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]