Philadelphia 76ers: 5 goals for Robert Covington in 2017-18
By Simon Smith
Having emerged as one the elite wing defenders in the league, here are five goals for Robert Covington of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017-18.
Lost amid the hype surrounding the rise of the Philadelphia 76ers last season was the play of forward Robert Covington.
Undrafted coming out Tennessee State, Covington completed his third full season as a Sixer by averaging 12.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.0 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game. Starting all 67 of his games at the small forward slot, Covington’s impact went relatively unnoticed due the emergence of rookies Joel Embiid and Dario Saric.
At 6’9″ with a 7’2″ wingspan, Covington’s combination of length and athleticism provides the Sixers with the ideal defensive on the perimeter, an amazing complement for Embiid’s work on the interior.
But despite his continued growth, the Sixers’ swingman has yet to fully capture the attention of sportswriters and broadcasters league wide. Following his elite performance on the defensive end last season, Covington received a total of just 11 votes from voters of the NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams.
Considering Covington ranked ninth among all forwards in defensive win shares despite the Sixers winning just 28 games last season, it appears Philly’s position in the standings has somewhat influenced the perception of Covington across the league.
So with the fifth-year forward entering a contract year, here are five goals for Covington in 2017-18.