Sixers Set to Face Former Guard for First Time as Rivals
On Sunday night, the Philadelphia 76ers will battle it out against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. For the first time as rivals, the Sixers will face their former guard, Shake Milton.
Seeing Shake Milton in a different uniform this season was odd for Philadelphia. After he was acquired during the 2018 NBA Draft, Milton was a feel-good story in Philly as he went from a second-round pick two-way player to landing a standard contract and having a steady role beyond the NBA G League.
For the first five years of his career, Milton played for the Sixers. While most of his time was spent as a reserve, Milton had a key role in the team’s rotation from 2019 up until last season.
Unfortunately, Milton struggled to garner steady minutes in the postseason. After averaging 13 minutes per game during the team’s 2022 run, Milton saw the court for just six games in 2023, averaging fewer than four minutes of playing time.
When the 2023 offseason came around, it was apparent the Sixers would part ways with Milton. Heading into his first free agency, Milton inked a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Minnesota wouldn’t become a long-term home to Milton. After just 38 games, the Timberwolves traded Milton ahead of the deadline. In a two-team transaction, Milton landed on the rebuilding Detroit Pistons.
With the Pistons for eight games, Milton averaged 16 minutes in four of those outings. For the other half, he collected DNP statuses. Eventually, Milton and the Pistons agreed to a buyout, which opened up the door for Milton to test free agency once again.
The New York Knicks came calling for the former Sixer. On Sunday, Milton will suit up for the Knicks for the second time this season against the team he started with.
The Atlantic Division rivals are set to battle it out at 7 PM ET on Sunday.
