Kelly Oubre Jr. Sparks Sixers With Versatility in Starting Lineup Shift
PHILADELPHIA - With the Philadelphia 76ers finally getting healthy, Nick Nurse had a decision to make. The expectation might’ve been that Kelly Oubre Jr. would return to his usual role off the bench, but Thursday night against the Houston Rockets, Nurse threw a curveball. Oubre got the start over Dominick Barlow - and made the most of it.
Oubre poured in 26 points on an efficient 10-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three. But it wasn’t just the scoring that stood out.
He took on some of the toughest defensive assignments of the night, switching onto both Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun at different points. That’s the kind of two-way impact that makes Oubre such a valuable piece in Philly’s rotation - a guy who can shape-shift depending on what the game needs.
“I think it has very high potential,” Oubre said postgame, talking about the new-look starting five. “VJ [Edgecombe] had a pretty slow night compared to the spark that he brings, and Paul [George] as well, right?
So, any given night, man, you can throw anybody into position and they step up to the plate. I think the versatility is key.
The grit and the defensive tenacity is great.”
That versatility is something the Sixers are banking on as they try to build chemistry with a fully healthy roster. Thursday’s starting group - Tyrese Maxey, Edgecombe, George, Oubre, and Joel Embiid - had barely shared the court before this game.
In fact, coming into the night, they’d logged just four possessions together. That number jumped to 51 by the end of the game, and the early returns are promising: a net rating of +10.4, per Cleaning the Glass.
It’s a small sample size, but it’s enough to raise eyebrows. That group has length, scoring punch, defensive switchability, and most importantly, room to grow.
The Sixers aren’t just leaning on their starters, either. The second unit, featuring Barlow, Trendon Watford, and Jabari Walker, continues to bring energy and depth. Oubre made a point to highlight their contributions.
“Especially throwing Dom in there, too,” Oubre said. “Throwing Bari in there who comes in and brings a lot of energy, TWatt can bring versatility and handle the ball as well.
So there’s a lot down the line that we can hang our hats on. It’s up to the coaches to play those matchup games, but I think the sky’s the limit if we just continue to find that groove and find that rhythm.”
And just to be clear - Barlow’s move to the bench wasn’t a demotion. He’s been a strong contributor for Philly all season, and he played well again on Thursday.
Oubre’s message to him? Stay ready, stay focused, and keep doing the work.
“Dom is just a Swiss army knife,” Oubre said. “He’s still young, of course, but we shoot together, we do a lot of things, we talk a lot, too.
He’s developing into a great NBA player. Like I tell him - you just gotta be a Swiss army knife.
Keep your head focused. Don’t worry about the things that are out of your control.
Just go out there and put the work in to allow those things to shine. He does that.
He’s a great individual.”
This is the kind of internal synergy that championship contenders build on - veterans lifting up younger players, coaches experimenting with lineups, and players embracing roles that shift night to night. Oubre’s emergence as a do-it-all starter might not have been part of the original blueprint, but it’s becoming a key piece of the puzzle. And if this group keeps clicking the way it did Thursday night, the Sixers might be unlocking something special at just the right time.