76ers Upgrade Reserve’s Playing Status vs. Orlando Magic

When the Philadelphia 76ers hosted the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night, they once again ruled out their veteran guard, Jaden Springer.

According to the Sixers’ injury report, Springer is currently dealing with tendinitis in his right ankle. While his return to the bench for Friday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic isn’t guaranteed, Springer has seen his status on the injury report upgraded to questionable.

At this point in the year, the former first-rounder out of Tennessee is still searching for a consistent role in the Sixers’ rotation. While he hasn’t been going back and forth from the Sixers to the team’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, as frequently this season, Springer’s playing time has been up and down.

Before the Sixers closed out 2023, Springer appeared in 19 of the team’s 30 games. In the matchups he saw playing time, Springer averaged nine minutes on the floor. Of the matchups he missed, Springer picked up DNPs on nine occasions.

Through the first seven games of the new year, Springer has made five appearances. He saw a slight increase in playing time, averaging 13 minutes on the floor. During that time, he attempted 3.8 shots. He’s struggled with his shooting consistency, draining just 26 percent of his attempts per game. Over the previous two games, Springer was ruled out due to his recent setback.

There’s no guarantee Springer will pick up playing time the next time he’s cleared for action, but with a shorthanded roster at the moment, Springer could see a bump in the rotation. Perhaps he’ll get another opportunity to showcase himself on Friday against the Magic if he’s able to get clearance.