Kelly Oubre Details State of His Setback Since Returning to 76ers

With two games under his belt, Kelly Oubre is progressing in the right direction after recovering from a fractured rib.

As expected, he’s still climbing to get to one hundred percent.

“My defense felt a lot better,” Oubre said following Friday’s win over the Atlanta Hawks. “I was able to kind of catch up to speed early and impact the game on that end. I was really happy with that.”

When it comes to the offensive side of the ball, that’s where Oubre is searching for progress the most, as a combination of finding a rhythm and getting used to the contact once again is a battle within itself.

“I think I would say I’m a little timid,” Oubre admitted. “I’m not trying to force it and be super physical, but like every time I test and it doesn’t hurt, I know that I can do it. I unlocked it in my head, and that’s kind of how this whole process has been. I’ll continue to just ramp up and get more physical.”

Through his first two games back, Oubre has averaged roughly 20 minutes on the court. In his first game, he shot efficiently from the field, scoring on five of his eight field goal attempts. He produced 12 points in the Sixers’ five-point win over the Washington Wizards.

In the following game, Oubre knocked down four of his nine shots and half of his free throws to produce 11 points in the 11-point win over Atlanta.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse won’t confirm whether or not Oubre will keep a reserve role or gain a chance to join the starting five once again.

While all signs point to the former situation being the most likely path moving forward, Oubre is focused on getting back to the best version of himself so he can thrive in any role that’s issued to him.

“Offensively, I’m still finding my rhythm and my pace,” Oubre added, “but I can hoop.”

Being in the NBA since 2015, the 28-year-old has more than enough experience to know that an injury won’t erase his skill set. As he’s still “on the mend,” Oubre is aware that it’s only a matter of time before he’s back to the best version of himself.

“We’ll find it, and I’m confident in that,” he finished.