Welcome to the Sixers, Oshae Brissett. Hope you’re ready to play 40 minutes!
During the Process years, Brett Brown used to joke that players would get off a plane, he’d meet them and shake their hand, and then tell them they’re starting at point guard.
Well, the good news for Nick Nurse is that he already knows Oshae Brissett, the forward the Sixers signed to a 10-day contract Friday. And there’s a good chance Brissett has to play big minutes against his former squad, the Indiana Pacers, Friday night.
Despite the Sixers not having any open roster spots, the 26-year-old Brissett was signed by the team thanks to the league’s roster hardship exception. In reality, the entire 2024-25 season has been a “hardship” for Nurse and company.
The Sixers have three players ruled out for the season in Joel Embiid, Jared McCain and Eric Gordon. Paul George could be next as he reportedly is weighing treatment options this week. Kyle Lowry hasn’t played since Feb. 9 and it’s hard to imagine he plays again this season. Tyrese Maxey is reportedly seeing a hand specialist and also might not suit up again this season. Newcomer Lonnie Walker suffered a concussion Wednesday in Toronto and will also be out.
OK, that’s all the guys we know are out.
Andre Drummond, Kelly Oubre, Jr., Quentin Grimes, Justin Edwards and Alex Reese are listed as questionable. For most teams in the Sixers’ position this would look like a pure tank, but Drummond has been fighting a toe issue for most of the season while Edwards has been noticeably favoring an ankle sprain that he suffered right after the All-Star break. Oubre is the type of guy that needs to be told he can’t play, even if injured. Grimes and Reese both have plenty to play for — Grimes for his next contract and Reese is fighting for his NBA life.
On top of that, Guerschon Yabusele, who isn’t on the injury report, missed Wednesday’s loss to the Raptors because of a knee issue that’s been bothering him throughout the second half of the season.
The point being, yes, the Sixers would like to lose as many games as possible to improve their lottery standing, but they’re also just comically shorthanded.
Brissett, drafted out of Syracuse in 2019 by Nurse and the Raptors, has played in 227 NBA games between Toronto, Indiana and the Boston Celtics. The Toronto native has spent this season playing for the Long Island Nets of the G League — and frankly the numbers aren’t great. But he has NBA experience and familiarity with Nurse.
Friday could also mark the Sixers debut of Jalen Hood-Schifino. A first-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers back in 2023, the 21-year-old guard has played in just 23 NBA games but has impressed in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats while on a two-way deal.