What’s next for KU’s Kelly Oubre after finishing season with 76ers? ‘I’m still here’
In terms of overall production, steady yet unheralded small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers has actually scored more points the past two seasons than seven-time All-Star, one-time MVP and fellow former Kansas Jayhawks one-and-done center Joel Embiid.
The 6-foot-8, 205-pound Oubre, 29, was the No. 15 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He has scored 1,955 points combined in 128 games (109 starts) in 2023-24 and 24-25, while the oft-injured 7-foot, 280-pound Embiid has put up 1,805 points for the Sixers in just 58 contests over the same two campaigns.
Embiid, 31, went No. 3 overall in the 2014 Draft.
One of Philly’s only bright spots during a just-completed 24-58 season, Oubre is expected to exercise a player option in his current two-year contract worth $8.4 million for next season.
He has until June 29 to formally renew his lucrative deal or he becomes a free agent.
“I’m a Philadelphia 76er,” Oubre told reporters during his exit interview at season’s end. “I’m blessed to be a part of this organization. I’m here in front of you guys right now. I’m taking it day by day. But also this is a business. At the end of the day I’m happy and I like to finish what I start, and I don’t feel complete. So you know, Godspeed and yes, I’m still here.”
Oubre this past season averaged 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and career highs of 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 60 games. The 10-year-veteran, who has played for five teams, missed the final 17 games of the season because of a sprained left knee. The injury is not believed to be serious.
“I’m just dealing with some tendinosis, obviously, dealing with bruises and hyperextension and stuff like that,” Oubre said. “They are aftereffects. When I started to ramp up the recovery process, I started to experience some discomfort from back in my high school days, growing pains. All that kind of comes back up when you do stuff like that. But at this point, I’m feeling pretty well, just looking forward to the offseason.”
Oubre, who is on target to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2025-26 season, realizes he needs to work on his shooting — the sooner the better.
In 24-25, he hit 71 of 242 3s for 29.3%, the second worst percentage of his career. During his one-and-done season at KU (2014-15) he averaged 9.3 points a game on 44.4% shooting. He was 34-of-95 from 3 for 35.8%.
“I’m going to work on my craft, my shooting of course,” Oubre said of upcoming summer drills. “I had surgery on my hand back in my tenure in Charlotte (three seasons ago with Hornets). I’ll see my hand therapist, get that range of motion back, get my confidence up with a whole lot of reps. I’ll get up a lot of shots, a lot of 3s. I’ll work on everything, my handles, more reads, more live plays, making sure the things I learned this year about getting in the paint, creating for others and creating synergy will be better next year.”
In fact he told the Philadelphia Inquirer he plans on “bringing the swag back and all I know is that I’ll come back better than I was this year. I’m going into year 11 in my career. (I’m) blessed to still be here, but at the end of the day, I’m not satisfied with the way I’m perceived by you guys and fans for what I do bring to the NBA. So, ‘Tsunami’s’ back.” Oubre smiled as he referenced his nickname.
The Sixers are planning on starting Oubre once again in a lineup that when healthy includes All-Stars Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, who missed a combined 134 games in 2024-25.
“It’s been a really hard teeter-totter throughout the whole year balancing mind and body because once your mind goes your body goes as well,” Oubre said of the injury-plagued season. “We are all very resilient, very strong. I kept it together. We all kept it together as best as we possibly could in the situation we were in.”
He maintained a sense of humor through a losing season. Asked for positives, Oubre said: “It can’t get any worse. Now we can figure out the issues, take this offseason and come back bigger, better, faster, stronger and not be in this position again. When it rains, the sun has got to shine one day. I’m looking forward to the sunshine.”
This story was originally published April 23, 2025 at 10:26 AM with the headline "What’s next for KU’s Kelly Oubre after finishing season with 76ers? ‘I’m still here’."
