From Expendable to Dependable: Robert Covington’s Unique 2014-2015 Season

Opportunity in the NBA is a facet controlled by the lack of rotational flux and surplus of seasoned talent already fixated in the league. It’s difficult to break into a team’s core as a second round pick, D-Leaguer or overseas player whose career path is predetermined with a role player-like ceiling at the highest level. The uprising in second round selected players and undrafted talent is a promising trend for those who have played their way into a pivotal contributor.

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Out of the top 50 players who played the most minutes per game last season per espn.com, seven were selected in the second round and Wes Matthews was the only player to never hear his name called in the draft. The determination to push past those whose goals were in another realm and the opportunity for consistent, important minutes tie into the ascension of guys like Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan and Chandler Parsons.

For 24-year-old Robert Covington, his initial path to relevancy was a familiar story. Unranked by many scouting outlets after his senior season at Proviso West high school in Illinois, Covington signed with perennial Ohio Valley pushover Tennessee State. Providing that jolt struggling mid-major teams appreciate, Covington became a featured talent his freshman season. Playing in all 32 games and finishing second on the team in scoring (11.5 ppg.), the Tigers found a dynamic steal.

Sophomore year for Covington cemented the skill set he currently embodies. A 46 percent clip from downtown initiated Covington’s label as a marksman. “RoCo” didn’t just find that smooth release recently.

In direct competition with current teammate Isaiah Canaan, who played at Murray State, Covington lit up the OVC in his final two seasons en route to a career line of 14.8 ppg. and 7.2 boards per game while connecting on 42.2 percent of his looks from deep. The Tiger turned around a program who entered postseason play in 2012 (CBI Invitational) for the first time in almost twenty years.

"“I think the main thing is continuing to do what he does well,” said TSU head coach Travis Williams per The City Paper’s Jerome Boettcher. “He can shoot it. He is athletic. He can rebound. He’s got length. He can play defense … He just has to continue to get stronger. At that level, they have to play 82 games. He has to continue to work on his ball handling, his ability to create shots and finish plays.”"

The inability to parlay a memorable college career into being selected in the 2013 NBA Draft didn’t jeopardize Covington’s NBA outlook. Ironically, in retrospect, Covington would likely be a first round option for many teams currently lacking a shooter on the perimeter.

Hinkie’s former stomping grounds, the Houston Rockets, provided the 6’9″ combo forward with an opportunity few undrafted free agents acquire. Locking him up for the 2013-2014 season, GM Daryl Morey let Covington blossom in the D-League after getting some burn in the preseason. From being a star mid-major talent to an MVP in a league filled with previous NBA players, Covington’s path to the highest level of competition became direct.

The sporadic adventure from Rio Grande to Houston, however, was far from ideal. Throughout his journey in a league he continuously dominated, Covington played in only seven games for the parent squad. Instead of riding the bench, Morey benefited Covington’s career by allowing the former OVC standout to get consistent minutes. He appeased his boss who had rave reviews on his D-League standout:

Covington’s breakout season in the D-League could have been omitted, but the potential to eventually secure a coveted role was a legitimate talking point for the Rockets. SB Nation’s Ridiculous Upside articulated the traits Covington showed his rookie season that could have benefited the Rockets in the near future.

"There’a a reason why the Rockets signed Covington to a two-year contract, despite going undrafted, and there’s a reason he thrived with the Vipers: he’s a big who can stretch the floor and catch fire in a hurry explained Scott Rafferty.For that reason, Covington’s impact next season hinges on his ability to space the floor. The issue is, however, that in Rio Grande Valley, he had the freedom to , essentially fire at will. While he knocked down 3.2 threes per game, it took him 8.5 attempts to get there.Nevertheless, the tools are there for him to be an impactful player. Covington did, after all, average 23.2 points per game on 44.0 percent shooting from the floor and 37.0 percent from three with the Vipers. If he becomes more consistent with his outside shot and continues to play the defense he’s capable of, there’s no reason why he can’t work his way into the Rockets’ rotation."

The fervor exuded was a selling point for an organization to help his quest to get back into the league permanently. Houston couldn’t promise him a spot in a crowded backcourt, but the nature of the D-League quickly shifted north in Covington’s favor.

Even the NBA’s developmental league has their version of the draft. Covington going No. 1 overall should have been his signature moment last season. It would be for a plethora of undrafted talent. The Tennessee State product clamored for another chance at respectability through his play, and his efforts were rewarded.

As a free agent eligible to be signed to any team, after being waived right before the season by the Rockets, the struggling Philadelphia 76ers locked in on the D-League standout. Their target on the marksman couldn’t have been more accurate as the mutual necessity for both parties allowed Covington to sign a long term deal and get that assurance.

Hinkie’s brilliant play to get the forward into the rotation paid off in a massive way. The Sixers were an unmitigated disaster to begin the 2014-2015 season and Covington saved the franchise from plunging into historic ineptitude. His comeback story, however, took time to materialize. It wasn’t the promising situation to be thrust into in the midst of Philadelphia’s prolonged losing streak.

Brett Brown had nothing to lose.

Covington shot just 28.6 percent in November but show his first glimpse of his capabilities as a Sixer going 4/4 from downtown against the Knicks with 14 points. It was fitting that Covington’s first game eclipsing the 20-minute mark netted the Sixers their first win of the season. That spark off the bench provided Philadelphia with something promising in the second unit.

Hinkie talked about not hitting 1.000 and connecting on every draft pick. That notion holds true for signings and additions. Covington emerged as a viable weapon after many defects cycled through the roster.

For the starting lineup, the constant movement to find consistency converted into losses as Brown’s search for an offensive jolt led to an ideal candidate in Covington. He was a microwave off the bench. Getting him minutes with the starters would seemingly carry similar results.

On paper, the edge Covington offered was evident as he gave Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel a spot up shooter who stretched the floor. For two drive-heavy point guards in MCW and Tony Wroten, the offense flowed with polish as Wroten and Carter-Williams weren’t forced to jack up shots they struggled at.

Covington’s appearance in the starting lineup didn’t equate to consistent wins, but just flashing the ability to heat up at any point was a positive sign in many negative contests. Noel had yet to get acclimated on the offensive end and Carter-Williams’ sporadic injuries limited an already porous group.

A constant in the starting five along with Noel all season, Covington thrived in a role full of freedom. For Covington, the words “constant” and “freedom” are contributing aspects any player would love to have early in their career and especially on a new team. His on-court performance tied into the prodigious faith from Brett Brown:

"“I have my sights set on everything that i want to do to prove that I belong here,” Covington told Comcast SportsNet’s Molly Sullivan after the win over Detroit back in November. “I’ve just had that mindset [whenever] I’ve come in over the last few games, and Coach has believed in me, and they’ve found me. It’s been showing in my play.”"

Brown continues to vie for players that will create wins. Last year, the addition of Covington made his job simpler as his hand wasn’t forced as much when he initiated Covington into a more formidable role. Covington delivered with the most double-digit scoring games on the team. Despite the high volume attempts, Brown’s confidence never wavered:

Covington produced the lone positive  +/- lineup, per nbastats.com, last season for the Sixers and took the primary gunner role from Hollis Thompson early in the season. On the surface, Covington’s less-than-stellar shooting percentages stand out. Dig deeper into the shot attempts and the 39.6 percent from the floor looks less like a burden.

Covington’s game primarily flowed on the perimeter where he took 6.4 attempts there as opposed to just 4.4 looks from inside the arc. In the Catch and Shoot game, Covington paced the Sixers in effective field goal percentage (58.4%) while taking the most attempts (5.4). He converted less than 40 percent of his looks in the aforementioned category, but was second on the team in making wide open shots from deep (44.8%).

Covington’s obvious preference for the three had it’s cons as he couldn’t consistently attack his defender off the dribble due to his average quickness and pension to take natural shots he excelled in. Deferring constantly off the dribble, Covington didn’t pose a threat in the mid-range game.

Leering just outside of the arc on many half court sets, Covington lacked opportunities for two point jumpers and struggled to convert.

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

A silver lining was knowing his strengths and tendencies throughout the season. Evident by the graph from sports-reference, Covington was the quintessential three point marksman. Instead of attacking the basket, his consistent appearance on the fast break fueled the 59 percent from inside four feet.

Covington is sneaky athletic and can finish alley-oop attempts and two man fast breaks. The team leader in Points-per-Possesion in transition, he gave the Sixers a dependable wing who can create uptempo mismatches.  For a combo forward, getting more spry on the offensive end could bolster an already promising package for the 2015-2016 season. As a lanky forward who can play both the 3 and the 4 positions, he finished fourth on the team in steals per game (1.4) and blocks (31). Covington moves well laterally on defense, but offers more on the offensive end as he has an ideal counterpart in Nerlens Noel down low to help out.

In 70 games, the fact that he finished with 13.5 ppg. and is the second leading returning scorer isn’t the reason why his first significant year in the NBA was so intriguing. It’s embodying Philadelphia’s philosophy of developing players that other teams look over and providing them with opportunities that’s the captivating story at play. While some teams might demote a shooter who couldn’t surpass the 40 percent mark from the field, the Sixers have total faith in Covington’s progress and intricacy to their eventual core.

Covington is slated to start this season once again at the SF position as his cushiony spot on the roster was warranted based on his play last season. It’s not hard to fathom what type of role he’ll portray after a breakout campaign with added weapons around him in SG Nik Stauskas and rookie C Jahlil Okafor.

Covington’s going to shoot triples ad nauseam. As Brett Brown eloquently put it, “it’s what he does”.

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