Kelly Oubre Jr. has never been one to blend into the background. Whether it’s hitting the floor and knocking out a push-up before getting back on defense, flexing after an and-one, or blowing a kiss after a deep three, Oubre plays with a flair that can frustrate opponents and fire up fans.
He’s got that edge - the kind that gets under your skin if you’re lined up across from him. Just ask Paul George.
Before they became teammates in Philadelphia, Oubre and George had their share of battles. Two long, athletic wings with a knack for competing at both ends, they were often matched up and never backed down.
But when George signed with the Sixers, the dynamic shifted. The first time they crossed paths in the gym post-signing, there were no words - just a smile and a hug.
“We’ve had our back-and-forths,” George said. “I knew every time we matched up, I was going to get the best out of him and he was going to get the best out of me. We left it on the court, so now it’s an appreciation.”
That mutual respect was real. But unfortunately, the on-court chemistry didn’t get a chance to flourish early on.
George hyperextended his knee during the preseason, and from there, the Sixers’ season became a revolving door of injuries and inconsistency. Joel Embiid missed extended time.
Oubre battled knee issues of his own. And with Tyrese Maxey also navigating ups and downs, Philly never really found its rhythm.
That core group - Embiid, George, Oubre, and Maxey - logged just 222 minutes together last season. For a team with deep playoff aspirations, that’s barely a sample size.
Coming into the 2025-26 campaign, George made it clear he was open to playing the four - a shift from earlier in his career when he preferred staying on the wing. That opened the door for Oubre to slot in at the three. But again, injuries kept the full lineup from seeing the floor together.
That finally changed Thursday night.
With everyone healthy, head coach Nick Nurse rolled out a new-look starting five: Embiid, George, Oubre, Maxey, and rookie VJ Edgecombe. Going into their matchup against the Houston Rockets, that unit had played just four possessions together.
Four. But in a 128-122 overtime win, they looked like a group that had been building chemistry for months.
They led a furious fourth-quarter rally and dominated in overtime, delivering what might be the Sixers’ most impressive win of the season.
“I think it has very high potential,” Oubre said of the lineup. “Any given night, you can throw anybody in position and they’ll step up to the plate.
The versatility is key. The grit and the defensive tenacity is great.
… I think the sky is the limit if we can continue to find that groove and find that rhythm.”
Maxey snapped out of a mini-slump in a big way, pouring in 36 points and dishing 10 assists - even if his three-point shot still wasn’t falling. Embiid looked every bit the MVP-caliber force we’ve come to expect, posting a dominant 32-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. And Oubre played the role of third scorer to perfection, dropping 26 points and bringing his usual energy on both ends.
What makes this lineup so intriguing isn’t just the talent - it’s the balance. All five guys can create off the dribble.
All five can defend. All five can make plays.
It’s rare to see a Sixers team with this much offensive versatility, and even rarer to see it click this quickly. Against a Rockets team that’s been one of the better defensive units this season, the Sixers executed with poise and purpose.
George pointed to communication as a key factor in the group’s success.
“I thought we got better with our communication,” he said. “We got back on the same page early. Everything is starting to get better - talking, knowing what each other likes, spacing, taking turns matching up with different people.”
Defensively, the group was just as locked in. Maxey and Edgecombe were relentless in the backcourt, combining for six steals and helping force Kevin Durant into eight turnovers. Embiid had his best rebounding night of the season and tacked on two blocks for good measure - a clear sign that his body is trending in the right direction.
And then there was the wing duo of Oubre and George, who took on the challenge of defending Durant and Alperen Sengun down the stretch. George dealt with foul trouble, but when it mattered most, the two made life difficult for Houston’s top threats.
One possession in particular stood out. Sengun tried to establish position down low, but Oubre denied entry passes, poked the ball loose, and refused to let the All-Star big man get comfortable. It was a tone-setting moment - one that energized the team and the crowd.
“I just tried to be disruptive,” Oubre said. “It sucks [for them] because they look depleted every time they try to throw it in and it wasn’t completed.
It’s just about me trying my best to stop his rhythm from scoring, because once he gets me under the basket, I’m done. I was just trying to make those effort plays to rally the guys behind me to come help if he does get this ball, but I don’t want him to get it.
I think my will was better than their way.”
George, now sharing a locker room with Oubre instead of guarding him, knows exactly what kind of motor his teammate brings.
“Kelly wants to get every stop and make big plays defensively and take matchups and challenge the best player, put his nose literally in it,” George said. “He’s just fearless defensively. On the floor, period, he’s just fearless.”
This Sixers season has had its fair share of “what ifs.” But Thursday night felt different.
For the first time, the lineup that was supposed to carry this team finally got a chance to show what it could be. And if this is just the beginning, the rest of the East might want to take notice.