NBA

Will Isaiah Canaan be the 76ers point guard of the future?

Will Isaiah Canaan be the 76ers point guard of the future?
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There has been a revolving door all season.

As a result, it has been a evolving process for the 76ers, most notably for coach Brett Brown.

Players have flown in, checked their bags, met with the coaching staff and found themselves playing immediately.

For Isaiah Canaan, it was a blessing.

The 23-year-old point guard was acquired in a trade deadline deal from the Houston Rockets for K.J. McDaniels and came through with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists in just his second game with Philadelphia in a five-point loss at Orlando.

Canaan has 63 points and 17 assists in six games with the Sixers. Not to mention a wonderful opportunity to showcase his skills.

“All I’ve been looking for is an opportunity, and I’ve been put in a good one,” Canaan said. “I’m glad to be here.”

Forward Robert Covington is equally thrilled.

Covington attended Tennessee State and Canaan went to Murray State. The players competed against each other and eventually became teammates in the D-League.

“He’s going to work as hard as anybody and he’ll compete like crazy,” Covington said. “He’s going to fight and scrap just like I do. We both have dreams of being in the NBA and we’re going to do everything possible to have it keep going. He’s an amazing competitor and I expect him to do a lot of great things.”

Canaan was recently sent to the D-League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers and he continued to display an incredible work ethic with the hope of returning to the NBA as soon as possible. Canaan averaged 21.6 points and 8.2 assists in 22 career games.

While Covington was cementing his role with the Sixers, Canaan was waiting patiently off the court. On the court, he was relentless.

“He (Covington) was excited, and he actually called me right after (the trade) happened,” Canaan said. “We played a lot together last year, a little in the D-League and then with Houston while he was there, and we played in the same conference in college, so we’re pretty familiar with each other. It’s a pleasure to be able to play with him again, and on a big stage.”

Canaan was the No. 34 overall selection in the 2013 NBA draft by the Rockets and now he’s looking to maximize this chance. It doesn’t matter that the Sixers are 13-47.

Canaan is anxious to prove his mettle for the long run.

“I want to show that I can compete,” Canaan said. “I want to show that I can lead a team and be an extension of the coach on the court. I don’t want anyone to be able to say I didn’t play hard. That is my goal.”