Once again, Sixers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is being talked about as a potential trade candidate this season. The man lovingly nicknamed “Tsunami Papi” joined the Philadelphia 76ers just before the 2023-2024 NBA season. Since that point in time, Oubre has been one of the most consistent and impactful players on Philadelphia’s roster, and the Sixers should absolutely avoid trading Oubre away at all costs.
When Oubre Jr. initially signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, he had just averaged a career-high 20.3 points per game for a rank 30 offense with the Charlotte Hornets. At this point, he was seen as an empty-calorie scorer who wasn’t likely to greatly impact a winning basketball team. This belief began to change, however, once Oubre signed a league minimum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
In his first year with the team, Oubre started 52 games and played in 68. While the Sixers were struggling at points in the season, with Joel Embiid being limited to only 39 appearances, he helped lead the Sixers, alongside Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, to a 47-win season and a playoff appearance as the seventh seed. That season, he averaged 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game for the team. Following his strong performance, Oubre earned a new, two-year, $16.3 million contract with the team with a player option on the second year.
Since then, Oubre has continued to be extremely valuable to the Sixers. In the cursed 2024-2025 season, no player played more minutes for the Sixers and only Tyrese Maxey, current dark horse MVP candidate, scored more total points. In fact, one could argue that Kelly Oubre Jr. is one of the single most valuable players on the Sixers.
In the last three seasons, looking at the 57 different players who have played for the Sixers in that span, Kelly Oubre ranks second in games played (150), games started (128), threes made (214), threes attempted (681), field goals made (863), field goals attempted (1878), and total steals (198). He also ranks first in total rebounds (817), as well as third in total points (2300).
It's understood that some of these stats can be attributed to the plethora of injuries sustained by the Sixers during this time; however, it is important to place extra emphasis on the fact that nearly no other player is as consistently available to the team as Oubre. While this season, Oubre has dealt with injury, missing 22 games already, he is also having, arguably, his best season as a Sixer. He is currently shooting a career high 49.2% from the field and a career high 36.5% from beyond the arc, while also contributing 14.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per night. Since returning from injury in January, Oubre has been even more efficient from beyond the arc, making 39.6% of his threes.
While Oubre isn’t the most talented player on the team, and likely won’t be considered for any major awards, the Sixers, more than almost any team in the league, should understand that availability is the best ability. With Oubre, Philadelphia has a stabilizing presence on the wing who can create his own shot and plays solid defense. While it is still possible that the Sixers trade Oubre to duck the tax before the trade deadline on Feb. 5, they should take the time to recognize that Oubre has been Mr. Consistent for the past three seasons of Sixers basketball before doing so.
