Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. ‘could return NEXT WEEK’ from broken rib… less than a month after telling police he was hit by a car
Philadelphia 76ers small forward Kelly Oubre is considering a possible return to action next week, according to The Athletic.
Oubre has been out of action since suffering a broken rib in a reported collision, when he told police he was hit by a car on November 11.
After the accident, he was taken to a nearby hospital and released later that evening. The face of the Sixers the Washington Wizards next Wednesday before hosting the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
Before suffering the injury, Oubre was averaging 16.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals through eight games.
“There's still some conditioning work to be done, in addition to seeing what he can handle contact-wise… I'm just waiting for the medical team to tell me he's good to go, right?” 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said this week.
76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr is reportedly looking forward to a return to the court next week
Oubre averaged 16.3 points, 5.1 rebs and 1.4 steals through eight games before getting injured
“I think that's always the progression of, can he go? Does he move freely? Which I think he is. Can he get into this contact area? Not quite there yet, I think.'
Nurse also revealed that Oubre was set to join the team on their two-game road trip this week and had attended “some” of practice on Tuesday. The coach has not even ruled out the 27-year-old returning for Friday's game against the Boston Celtics.
Oubre joined the 76ers this offseason on a one-year deal after spending the final two years of his career with the Charlotte Hornets.
It didn't take long for the former Kansas Jayhawk to make a strong impression in Philadelphia. He set the franchise record for most points ever scored by a reserve player in the team's season opener, dropping 27 points in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Veteran forward Nicolas Batum has filled Oubre's place in the starting lineup
Three games later, he found himself in the starting lineup after James Harden and PJ Tucker were traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
He remained there until the injury forced him to the sidelines.
Former Clippers forward Nicolas Batum has filled Oubre's spot in the starting lineup and during that time the 76ers have gone 5-5 after a 7-1 start.
Batum averaged 7.1 points and 4.6 rebounds through seven starts.