Jeff Dowtin Jr. first came to the Sixers‘ organization nearly one year ago, joining the Delaware Blue Coats on Nov. 2, 2023. On March 2, Dowtin signed a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. On April 4th, Dowtin signed a standard NBA contract with the team and would join their postseason roster.
Dowtin held a $2.2 million team option heading into the offseason, which the Sixers declined in June ahead of the start of free agency. The Sixers needed to maximize cap space, and despite Dowtin’s contributions and his connection to head coach Nick Nurse from their shared days in Toronto, he became a cap casualty.
But the Sixers were not done with Dowtin. They recognized his ability both as a player and as a connective piece between Nick Nurse and the other Sixers players, acting almost as an additional coach at times. On July 21, the team announced that they would be bringing Dowtin back on a new two-way deal.
Following the Sixers’ preseason matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, Dowtin addressed the media and was asked about his experience with Nick Nurse and what Nurse looks for in a player:
“Leadership, being vocal, communicating on the court, and just kind of being that coach on the floor and just having confidence in yourself. Once he sees that you can orchestrate the offense, you can be a leader and be vocal, it kind of gives you free rein to do what you’ve been doing your whole life and just play basketball and play the game.”
“So I think for me, just having that confidence in myself whenever I step on the court, talking to the guys, just helping them whenever they need help, giving them confidence, making sure that I’m hitting those guys in open spots, making sure that they’re just feeling real good about themselves when they’re on the court. That’s what I’m gonna do.”
Hearing that, one cannot help but think of another point guard Nurse coached in Toronto: Dowtin’s now teammate, Kyle Lowry. Dowtin was asked about the opportunity he has to learn from another Nurse disciple, another player-coach in Lowry:
“Kyle’s been a part of this league for some time now, so [I’m] just trying to learn a lot from him, seeing where he excels at and in the game. And just kind of piggyback off him.”
Dowtin continues to ask questions to his coaches and veterans but is also clearly gaining confidence at the same time, not just in himself but in his teammates. When asked about the chemistry he’s built with his teammates now that he’s had a proper opportunity to do so, Dowtin pointed to the ability to connect throughout the summer, which helps to feed that chemistry:
“I think just from us being together all summer, you know, we kind of have that, that brotherhood mentality, you know, figuring out how to play with one another on the court, and just figuring out where guys like to get the ball at. So I think it just becomes easier, just more natural, more on the court, and just just finding guys in open spots.”
Dowtin may be on a two-way deal with Philadelphia once again, but his impact cannot be overstated, even if it might not be directly seen in the box score this season.
