Philadelphia 76ers: Should Scottie Wilbekin Start At PG?

On opening night, don’t let it surprise you if Scottie Wilbekin is the starting point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers. 

On the surface it doesn’t make much sense and you wouldn’t be wrong thinking something along the lines of, “You’re saying that Sam Hinkie traded away Michael Carter-Williams, as well as Jrue Holiday, to eventually sign Scottie Wilbekin?” 

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Yes. Yes they did.

Using that logic you’re completely right and have a valid point. Carter-Williams and Holiday are some of the brightest point guards in the league. Each of them share one specific flaw within their games though–they’re not good jump shooters.

Wilbekin, on the other hand, is one of the better shooters and right now that’s the perfect fit in Philadelphia. 

A lot of people have given Hinkie, the Sixers’ general manager, a lot of flak for the way that Sixers have constructed their roster because of countless trades. In less than two years, though, the Sixers have a more clear identity that what they previously did.

When Philadelphia selected Jahlil Okafor to play inside with Nerlens Noel to create one of the best frontcourts in the NBA their team understands that their bread and butter is going to come from the low post.  

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Due to the fact that Okafor is a dominant low-post scorer, and Noel’s on his way to becoming an all-around interior scorer, they’re going to need players around them that can shoot lights out. That’s why when Hinkie made an awesome trade that stole Nik Stauskas away from the Sacramento Kings, it was a home run.

Another shooter that could help their team, though, is Wilbekin and his ability to space the floor will only come in handy. 

It didn’t take much to see during the summer that Wilbekin had done more than enough to earn himself a roster spot with the Sixers. In the Las Vegas Summer League, he had a multitude of standout games, including finishing the summer with multiple games where he made at least two or more threes.

In fact his best game of the summer came against the New York Knicks where he went 6-of-8 from the three-point line and finished with 26 points.

It’ll be safe to say that because the Sixers did sign Wilbekin to a four-year deal, he’s already become their best point guard on the roster. 

It’s amazing though how Philadelphia has gotten away with bringing in undrafted players and second-round picks to help their team. K.J. McDaniels (in the past), Jerami Grant, Furkan Aldemir, Isaiah Canaan, JaKarr Sampson, Hollis Thompson, and J.P. Tokoto are a few of the talented players on the roster that were either second-round picks or undrafted players.

So it wasn’t a surprise that Wilbekin was on their radar, too. Hinkie’s got an eye for basketball talent. 

Now Philadelphia brought in a player who at one point graduated from the University of Florida while making one of the most historic runs for a point guard coached by Billy Donovan. In Wilbekin’s senior season, he led Florida to a 36-3 record, an undefeated season in the SEC (18-0), an SEC championship, and a Final Four appearance.

All of this got Wilbekin the SEC Player of the Year award, as well as the honor of being named third team All-American. 

*On another note: The fact that Billy Donovan took that Florida team with only two NBA players all the way to the Final Four is only a testament to his coaching greatness. Oklahoma City’s got a really solid coach on their hands for the next half decade.*

Depending on how much faith you have in Tony Wroten Jr. (he’s a bit turnover-prone, but man is he a great player), you’re going to see these two compete for the starting point guard spot.

In the meantime it’s OK to keep bashing Hinkie and all of the plans that he’s made for the Sixers. Right now it’s very difficult to see the diamond in the rough with this team. Keep in mind, though, that next year the Sixers could have as many as five first-round picks, including three picks in the lottery.

In two years (in Okafor’s third season in the league) the Sixers are going to play in the playoffs and it won’t come as surprise to anyone. The surprise to most people is that the Sixers were intelligent enough to offer Wilbekin a contract. Other teams would’ve jumped at the opportunity and Philadelphia wisely snatched him up. 

It’s been a long time coming for Wilbekin’s NBA career. He played in Australia for Cairns Taipans in the National Basketball League (the same league that produced James Ennis of the Miami Heat).

Then found himself playing in the Greek Basket League (the same league where Josh Childress ended up famously leaving the NBA for & also that produced Kostas Papanikolaou of the Denver Nuggets), playing for AEK Basketball Club. 

Only thing that’s left to say is…

…congratulations. 

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