Support From Sixers Fans Fuels Kelly Oubre After Injury

During the first quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers’ Friday night win over the Atlanta Hawks, Kelly Oubre checked into the game in front of the Sixers’ home crowd for the first time since Philly’s November 8 win over the Boston Celtics.

It was a warm welcome back for Oubre, who spent weeks recovering from a fractured rib after being involved in an off-court accident. Initially, Oubre’s timeline for return was unclear, but it seemed it could cause him to miss a large chunk of the season. Fortunately, he avoided a long-term setback and returned after missing just 11 games.

When Oubre checked in for his 23-minute shift against the Hawks on Friday, he received a loud welcome back as the Sixers’ crowd poured out more support for the veteran reserve.

“It was love, man, I appreciate all of the support from the fans,” Oubre said after the game. “All the support from, you know, my teammates, my coach, it’s just surreal, man.”

The 2023-2024 NBA season is a critical one for the veteran wing. Participating in his ninth NBA run, Oubre is on a minimum deal and playing for another long-term contract. The Sixers made a small investment on Oubre, which was paying off in a big way.

Through the first eight games of the season, Oubre thrived by averaging 16 points on 38 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He proved to be valuable in starting five and coming off the bench. The injury derailed his progress and sent him into a recovery phase. Without Oubre’s reliable services, the Sixers established a record of 5-6.

Since he’s been back on the floor, averaging 21 minutes off the bench and producing 12 points per game, Oubre was an important piece in Philadelphia’s two-win run. Oubre can’t predict the future and understands that anything can happen, but the 28-year-old veteran hopes to keep himself healthy so he can “pay it forward” this season after receiving so much support during his downtime.

“I don’t want to get hurt again because I feel bad they have to show me love off of something that kind of weird and tragic,” he finished. “At the end of the day, man, I’ll pay it forward. I go hard each and every game I step on the court.”

Oubre is on pace to appear in his third-straight game on Monday night against his former team, the Washington Wizards. The Sixers and the Wizards are set to tip off at 7:00 PM ET.