When Could 76ers Determine Kelly Oubre's Timeline for Return?

When the Philadelphia 76ers returned to their practice facility on Monday morning, Kelly Oubre made an on-court appearance for the first time in weeks.

While Oubre was not an active participant in the team’s session, he managed to participate in limited basketball activities following the session, which is a step in the right direction for the wing.

The following day, 76ers team officials noted that Oubre would spend at least another week’s worth of games recovering. Next week, he’ll undergo another evaluation to see where he’s at physically.

Prior to Tuesday’s matchup between the 76ers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse dished out the latest on his veteran guard. While he couldn’t pinpoint an ideal return date, Nurse was hopeful that Oubre could get back on the floor within two weeks.

“There might be a chance," Nurse said. "I think we’re still at a stage where we’re not sure how he’s going to handle the contact part of it. I think that’s going to determine. Like, if he handles that kind of first time out, I think we’re really close to that week timeline. If he doesn’t, then we’re gonna be probably pushing some more days on that. Hopefully, only days and not weeks on that.”

Prior to his injury, which occurred off the court, Oubre appeared in eight games for the 76ers. After signing a one-year deal following a two-year run with the Charlotte Hornets, Oubre hoped to offer a major spark for the Sixers in a reserve role. By the fourth game, Oubre benefitted from an early season trade, as he was promoted to the starting lineup in the absence of PJ Tucker.

Spending an average of 29 minutes on the court in eight games, Oubre averaged 16 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from deep. He also accounted for five rebounds per game, along with 1.4 steals per outing.

The Sixers have continued to find success in the absence of Oubre, who was thriving, but they will surely benefit from gaining his offensive value once again whenever he returns to the court. While the Sixers don’t have the exact date just yet, it seems it won’t be much longer before Oubre’s back in the rotation.