Sixers' Jaden Springer Made Star Teammate Proud vs. Celtics

Jaden Springer’s preseason opener in Boston couldn’t have gone much better than it did.

As a guy who has plenty to prove this upcoming season, Springer has all eyes on him with a valuable opportunity in front of him.

With little experience in the NBA beyond the G League to date, a young Springer was understandably nervous on Sunday night, according to his veteran teammate, Tyrese Maxey.

But with a little encouragement from the former first-round pick out of Kentucky, Springer put on a performance that has the city of Philadelphia buzzing the following day despite coming up short against the Celtics for the preseason opener.

“I’m just proud of him, man,” said Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. “He’s been working the last three years. I told him, ‘This year, it’s time. We’re probably going to need you. We’re going to need you to step up and play bigger and older than what you are.’ … So I’m proud of him.”

Springer is a Sixers’ first-round pick, but he’s been in a slow-burning developmental process over his first two seasons in Philadelphia. During his rookie season, he played in 29 games for the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats between the regular season and the Showcase Cup. On the Sixers, he had just two appearances.

Last season, Springer once again found himself suiting up primarily for the Blue Coats, competing in 30 games. On the Sixers, he averaged just six minutes on the floor in 16 games. Throughout the course of the 2022-2023 NBA season, Springer received a lot of praise from his coaches and teammates for the intensity he brought to practice.

Unfortunately, the Sixers’ curiosity and excitement about the young guard didn’t result in former head coach Doc Rivers giving him a shot. Perhaps Nick Nurse will be able to offer Springer a desired role in year three, but he’ll have to earn it during the preseason.

So far, Springer’s off to an impressive start, scoring 14 points while registering five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in 23 minutes of action.

76ers Fans Springer for Performance vs. Celtics

Shaking the rust of the offseason and the nerves generated by the moment off allowed Springer to create more noise around his name as fans pound the table for the third-year guard to have a spot in the rotation this season.

While consistency will ultimately determine whether Springer enters the regular season with a role or not, he’s surely on the right path after game one.