PHILADELPHIA -- As the Philadelphia 76ers move forward, they will need players off the bench who can knock down shots and provide a little bit of everything. Versatility is a big key in today's NBA and somebody like Jabari Walker fit that mold in the team's preseason opener.
Walker hopped off Philadelphia's bench and made an immediate impact. The 5-year man out of Colorado had 11 points, 11 rebounds, and a block in 19 minutes. The best part about it all? He made three 3-pointers on the five attempts he put up. The Sixers have been pushing Walker to shoot the ball more often and this was a big development for him.
Walker is somebody who plays with a ton of energy and brings his hard hat every night in an effort to find positive ways to impact the
team. His energetic play has stood out to new star forward Jaylen Brown who has been impressed with what he has brought to the team.
"I love Jabari," Brown said of his new teammate. "Jabari has been great. He’s been awesome. He’s been doing his job. He’s been hitting shots. He’s been rebounding defensively and offensively. He’s been doing what the coaches have asked him to do. So, he’s been great and he’s been doing really well since training camp."
Now in his second season with the Sixers and under the guidance of coach Nick Nurse, it's important for Walker to really make himself stand out. He had some good moments with the Portland Trail Blazers early in his career before joining the Sixers on a two-way deal, but now is the time to stand out and earn a consistent spot in the rotation.
"He's been kind of playing with a little bit more confidence this week," Nurse said of Walker. "It just feels like he's ready, to, you know, pull the trigger, and he certainly goes in and snaps down rebounds. He's just you know, on with the perimeter shot. It just kind of looks like he's going to shoot it when he's got space. He's going to take them, which is what we wanted, because he's a really good shooter. So, if he can provide space and rebound, he's going to be on the floor."
The Sixers will continue the preseason on Thursday when they take on the Brooklyn Nets on the road.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Jaylen Brown, Sixers praise Jabari Walker after preseason opener
