Oubre proves adaptable in ever-changing roles
LOS ANGELES — Kelly Oubre Jr. first learned the phrase be water as a 7-yearold in Taekwondo class. Then, it became more of a personal mantra as the 76ers’ wing dove further into the iconic Bruce Lee’s life and philosophies.
“You try to control too much — or try to do so much, at any moment — you can make a mistake,” Oubre told The Inquirer while sitting courtside at Phoenix’s Footprint Center earlier this week. “And any mistake, at any moment, can cost you.
“It’s really deep, but it’s not. Just try to be like water and keep it as simple as possible.”
That adaptability has been required throughout a season with the Sixers that Oubre described as “different,” during which his role has fluctuated for a variety of reasons. He missed about three early season weeks with a fractured rib sustained in what he said was a hit-and-run as a pedestrian in Center City.
Lineups have been tinkered with and around him, because of a barrage of health issues up and down the roster. And the Sixers are still searching for an identity while playing without injured reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid.
Yet Sixers coach Nick Nurse said Oubre, who is 6-foot-7, is now “trending upward” in everything from usage, to conditioning, to defensive mentality. The 28-year-old has totaled at least 18 points in nine of his past 10 games entering Friday’s matchup at the Los Angeles Lakers, and over that span he has averaged 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 block, and 0.9 steals.
“I just try to go hard in every single thing that I do,” Oubre said. “Hopefully, I can inspire people to do the same. I’m going to just bring me each and every day. I’m not going to be fake. I’m not going to have an ego. I’m just going to be me.
“I’m a passionate, kind-ofemotional player who plays hard each and every possession. Just trying to do that and use that as my foundation.”
Oubre scored a team-high 18 points and added five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and three blocks in Wednesday’s 115-102 loss at the Suns, his former team that he credits with helping jumpstart his career in 2018-20.
He was aggressive early, with a transition dunk, a leaning and-1 jumper, and an alley-oop pass to Mo Bamba highlighting his first half.
During the final 24 seconds of game action before the break, he converted a cutting layup, drew a foul after grabbing an offensive rebound off a missed Kyle Lowry free throw, and snatched a steal.
And he stayed on the floor for the entire fourth quarter with young teammates, helping cut into what had become a 26-point deficit.
That production uptick is a result of Nurse still learning Oubre’s ideal fit with this version of the roster.
Though his 30.1% mark from three-point range is Oubre’s lowest since 201617, Nurse is placing him more at the top of the key, rather than in the corner, to unleash his attacking with the ball in his hands.
Oubre’s wicked first step means “he can get by most anybody” off the dribble, the coach said, which often unlocks his athleticism to throw down a thunderous dunk or draw a foul in the lane.
“I’m just glad that that’s on his radar,” Oubre said of Nurse. “I can do more, not being in the corner a lot. I just want to help. I know I can do a lot more on both ends of the floor.”