Philadelphia 76ers power forward Paul Reed is celebrating today. The man known as Bball Paul is celebrating his 24th birthday today. While the Sixers’ big man surely has tons to celebrate already, he is also on the verge of getting a brand new shiny contract in the NBA. Hopefully, Philadelphia is aware of what Bball Paul brings to the team and just how important of a free agent the former G League MVP really is.
Drafted out of DePaul with the 58th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Reed has seen an increase in opportunity each and every season since. Reed received more playing time last season than he had any other season and still deserved more. In a career-high 10.9 minutes per game, Bball Paul averaged 4.2 points per game, 3.8 total rebounds per game, and 0.7 blocks per game, while shooting 59.3% from the field, all of which were career highs.
Even more impressive, in games where Reed played more than 15 minutes, his stats jump up to 10 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 1.7 blocks per game, and 1.3 steals per game on 66.7% shooting from the field, and 77.8% from the free throw line.
Reed has been one of the most underrated players for Philadelphia over the past few seasons, always showing flashes of an efficient offensive game while also giving glimpses of a versatile and dominant defensive motor with all of the necessary instincts to become a long-term NBA player. His work ethic is unparalleled, which we’ve known since his rookie year. Reed was going out on the court after games with Dwight Howard to keep working on and improving his game. Bball Paul won the G League MVP with the Delaware Blue Coats, and he has consistently made the most of his opportunities.
The jump that he took last season was nothing short of substantial, and he certainly appears to be a very good backup center at a bare minimum. With his kind of work ethic and his commitment to his team, Reed has the potential to be one of the most impactful players on the 76ers next season and the years following. Until then, Happy Birthday, “Bball Paul” Reed, and hopefully, next season is an 82-game-long Paul Reed Victory Tour.
