When Will Shake Milton Face 76ers as a Division Rival?

During the summer of 2023, the Philadelphia 76ers parted ways with their former homegrown prospect, Shake Milton. As Milton played out the final year of his contract with the Sixers in 2022-2023, he hit the free agency market for the first time to find a different opportunity.

Milton landed with the Minnesota Timberwolves at the start of the 2023 free agency period. At the time, the veteran guard anticipated a clear role coming off the bench for the Wolves, who were excited to have his veteran expertise in their second unit.

Perhaps the Timberwolves didn’t see a bright future with Milton. After seeing the veteran in their system for 38 games, the Timberwolves struck a trade with the Detroit Pistons, sending out a package headlined by Milton. He left Minnesota after averaging five points and one assist.

The Pistons seemed like a solid landing spot for Milton from a playing time standpoint. Being that the 27-year-old has many years of experience playing for a contending team in the Sixers, Milton could’ve likely carved out a solid role for himself in Detroit.

However, after suiting up for four games in a Pistons uniform, Milton and his new team agreed to part ways. Last week, Milton reached a buyout with the Pistons. Right away, he began searching for a situation that would allow him to be a helping hand on a contender.

Milton went from an out-of-conference opponent to an in-conference foe and is now a direct rival of the 76ers. By joining the New York Knicks, Milton lands on Philly’s division rival.

This season, the Knicks are more than just a regular-season threat to the Sixers. With a 36-25 record, the Knicks are one spot ahead of the Sixers in the Eastern Conference standings. If the season ended today, the two teams would match up for the first round of the playoffs.

The Sixers and the Knicks are set to meet for the third time this season on Sunday, March 10. Barring any unexpected setbacks, Milton should be good to suit up and face his former team for the first time as a member of the Knicks.

This year, the Sixers have struggled against their Atlantic Division rival. During the first meeting in early January, the Knicks handed the 76ers their most lopsided loss of the year by winning 128-92. The Sixers couldn’t get their revenge a couple of weeks back, as they fell short 110-96.

This weekend, the Sixers will be staring at the Knicks with a 0-2 record against them. Shake Milton will be on the other side, taking on his former team after facing the Knicks with them throughout the first five years of his career.