Kyle Lowry didn’t see any playing time Sunday night as he made possibly the final Toronto appearance of his long NBA career, writes Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Lowry is still a beloved figure in the city, where he spent nine years and helped the Raptors win their only NBA title. But the Sixers guard has moved into a player-coach role in his 20th NBA season, logging 43 total minutes in five appearances. Head coach Nick Nurse refers to him a “middle man” who serves as a liaison between the coaching staff and the other players.
“Sometimes, I try to talk to those guys as a coach,” Lowry said of his younger teammates, especially Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. “As a player, I wish I could say certain things or say, ‘Do this or do that.’ It’s that balance of I know I’m not on the court, so I can’t yell at them or curse at them. But I can say, ‘Hey, here are the things I see. Let’s try to do that.’”
It’s an unexpected role for Lowry, who was known for his hyper-competitive approach to the game during his prime, Koreen adds. But the wisdom he gathered during his two decades in the league and the influence of other players have prepared him to be a mentor.
“Throughout my career I had the opportunity to be around a guy like Fred VanVleet,” Lowry added. “That kind of (told me), ‘Why not try to continue to do that and help a guy like Tyrese Maxey.’ And then, you get fortunate enough and they draft a guy like VJ. You got two young guys. And Jared McCain. Sometimes, the game gives you something you have to do.”
There’s more on the Sixers:
- Kelly Oubre Jr. shot a combined 1-of-9 from the field in his first two games after returning from a long injury absence, but he rediscovered his scoring touch on Sunday, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer notes in a subscriber-only story. He contributed 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting while setting season highs with four steals and three blocks. “It definitely felt good,” Oubre said. “It’s just, I think I could be better. I got blocked because I’m not trusting myself and the work that I put in. So you know, just watching film, continue to just show up every day and get better. That’s all I can do. But it definitely felt good to get some run.”
- Oubre and Dominick Barlow were both in the starting lineup on Sunday because Paul George was a late scratch with left knee soreness, but Nurse will eventually face a difficult lineup decision, Pompey states in a mailbag column. Although it’s a close call, Pompey suggests the team is better with Barlow starting because that means George doesn’t have to play power forward and it’s easier for him to defend on the perimeter.
- Joel Embiid has an interesting case for an All-Star spot, Pompey adds in the same piece. Embiid has only appeared in 19 of the team’s 37 games — and was held out Sunday for left knee injury management and left groin soreness — but he’s been outstanding when he does play and his scoring average of 23.5 PPG tops all Eastern Conference centers. Embiid offered his opinion after Friday’s game, telling reporters, “Am I going to make it? I think I should. I don’t think we’re pushing it enough. I think I got pretty good stats. So, maybe you guys should put the word out that Joel Embiid is back.”
Of course Embiid thinks he should make All-Star. Coaches won’t agree. They overwhelmingly favored players who didn’t have injury issues last season.
Anybody with fewer than 30 games played is not going to make it. It doesn’t matter what Embiid’s stats are. His case isn’t better than Karl Anthony-Towns in a down year. It isn’t better than Scottie Barnes or Jalen Johnson or Evan Mobley. It isn’t better than Desmond Bane or Norm Powell. Hell, it isn’t even better than Michael Porter Jr.
Joel Embiid says “he’s back” asks media for help winning a midseason award and then sits out the very next game.
As of January 12th 2026.
Andre Drummond career totals:
11525 points
11271 rebounds
1133 assists
1152 steals
1177 blocks
1649 turnovers
Joel Embiid career totals:
12970 points
5121 rebounds
1720 assists
422 steals
762 blocks
1600 turnovers
Perspective is a helluva drug
Russell Westbrook has higher Career Totals than Derrick Rose too
Shoot you should do JJ Redick and Brandon Roy next while you’re at it
Wow that’s eye opening lol 👀👀
Embiid’s much shorter brother
Shows one guy plays. And at 5 mill. Availability is a high quality. That’s how you get real stats.
Not sure exactly what the Drummond comparison was intended to prove, but the one thing it does emphasize is what a subpar rebounder Embiid has been for a guy his size. Probably in no small part because he likes to hang out on the arc and jack up ill-advised threes.
You can’t rebound when you are standing at the top of the 3 point line!
That Embiid is a glass trash can. Plus Embiid has always been a dirty player do to flopping on other players to injure them. He’s a clown.
Embiid is a fraud and a joke.
You gotta respect the grift here !
Now he’s lobbying for lobbyists ! This dudes got a career in politics waiting after he wheelbarrows in his final load from Philly
76ers should start Oubre on the bench, give them some scoring from second unit to go along with Grimes, who is great coming off the bench.
This team has looked good since Embiid back and with their two starting guards, are fun to watch.