Less than a week ago, the Sixers waived Ricky Council IV and his non-guaranteed contract. It didn’t take long for the former Sixer to find a new home — and he won’t have to go far. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Council has agreed to a one-year deal with the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets.
Free agent guard/forward Ricky Council IV will sign a one-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets, his agent Adie von Gontard tells ESPN. The former 76ers wing appeared in a team-high 73 games last season, averaging
AD7.3 points and 2.9 rebounds.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2025
Council joined the Sixers as an undrafted free agent after the team went without a pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He initially signed a two-way contract and became a key contributor for the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers’ G League affiliate. His strong performances earned him a promotion to a multi-year standard NBA contract. Over the course of two seasons, Council appeared in more than 105 games.
Council’s development plateaued in his second and final season with the team. Despite the Sixers dealing with a myriad of injuries, he was one of the few players who couldn’t take advantage of the increased opportunities. He often freelanced on offense, lacked consistency on defense, and struggled with his perimeter shooting. Last season, he ranked among the league’s worst high-volume shooters. Combined with the emergence of Justin Edwards, these factors ultimately led to his departure from Philadelphia.
Now, Council joins the Brooklyn Nets, a team firmly in the midst of a rebuild. Many expect them to be among the league’s worst teams next season. In the most recent draft, the Nets made headlines by controversially selecting five players in the first round, most of them in the 20–30 range. With control of their own draft pick next year, the Nets are expected to prioritize positioning for the lottery over chasing wins. The roster is full of uncertainty, which could give Council an opportunity to prove he belongs in the NBA.
Now that he’s joined a division rival, all eyes will be on whether Council can turn the page, and maybe deliver a few revenge performances against the Sixers along the way.
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