Philadelphia 76ers: Jaden Springer is finding his G-League footing

Not every player selected in the back half of any given NBA Draft’s first round can be Tyrese Maxey.

Not every player can drop 39 in only their 10th professional game, get better and better with each passing game, and transform into a serious favorite to win Most Improved Player in only his second professional campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

No, some players just take a little longer to become viable rotational players and have to further develop their talents outside of the watchful eye of the NBA. With extended opportunities to actually play legit minutes in the G-League, sometimes a player will get more comfortable, and their natural talents will become more evident on the court.

Though the sample size is still relatively small, Jaden Springer’s time with the Delaware Blue Coats may soon insert him into that prestigious category.

Springer is becoming must-watch for the Philadelphia 76ers’ G-League affiliate.

Jaden Springer has appeared in one game for the Philadelphia 76ers so far this season, logging a little over two minutes of action in the season opener versus New Orleans.

Unsurprisingly, Springer did not contribute much to the eventual 117-97 win, logging no recordable statistics while finishing out the game with a +/- of -6, but hey, when you play in garbage time at the end of a blowout, what do you really expect?

In the G-League, by contrast, things have really been looking very promising for the Sixers’ other Tennessee Volunteer.

Given much more room to operate, Springer has averaged 15.7 points in 28.5 minutes of action a night while producing five rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game over his first three contests. He’s making good decisions with the ball in his hands, even if his 2.3 turnovers per game could use some improving, playing with good pace, and largely coming as advertised as a defender in one of the best defensive backcourts the G-League has to offer.

And the best part? Springer is showing out with some high-flying acrobatics that you can check out here.

Now granted, Springer’s game still has some working out to do. He’s attempting two 3 pointers a game – a knock coming out of Tennessee – and he’s only hitting them at a 33 percent clip. He’s also only averaging 1.3 assists per game, which is understandable, considering he’s playing at shooting guard opposite an experienced vet like Shaquille Harrison, but still, Springer’s inability to get his teammates involved leaves question marks about his eventual abilities to become a secondary ballhandler at the NBA level.

But hey, when the team is winning, and Springer is getting consistent minutes, who can really complain?

Does Jaden Springer have a place in the Philadelphia 76ers’ future? Debatable. Unlike last season’s draft class, which featured three players with very specific specialties, Springer is more of an all-around developmental player who could have a high defensive ceiling but is much more of a variable on offense. Could he co-exist alongside players Matisse Thybulle and Tyrese Maxey and join them alongside the team’s brightest young performers? Or will he instead be on the move to another team in a multi-player trade involving Ben Simmons? Needless to say, if Springer continues to shine in the G-League, it’ll only continue to elevate his stock around the NBA.