As a 26-year-old player and one of the longest tenured players on the Philadelphia 76ers roster, small forward Robert Covington has come a long way. After breaking into the NBA in the 2013-2014 season with the Houston Rockets, Covington played in just seven games. This, inevitably, was enough to warrant his demotion to the D-League. After playing productive basketball in the D-League, the Philadelphia 76ers decided that he would be the next player in the line of many that they would give a ten day contract to. The difference between "Big Shot Rob" and the rest of the ten day offers that the team gave was that he would prove to be around much longer than 10 days.
Covington's transition as a player
Now in his third year with the Philadelphia 76ers, Robert Covington has developed into not only a knock down three point shooter, but also one of the leagues best perimeter defenders. Upon entering the Philadelphia 76ers rotation in the 2014 season, Covington immediately flashed the ability to catch and shoot. His shooting wowed Philadelphia fans, teammates, and coaches, but one thing remained certain; Philadelphia was interested in the future and not "The now." If Covington was to prove worthy and earn minutes in head coach Brett Brown's lineup, he needed to become a better defender. On a team struggling to win games, Covington made the most of his time. In his second and third season on the team, Covington has earned the reputation as being one of Brett Brown's favorites and one of the most reliable guys on the team.
Versatility of Robert Covington
Not only does Covington have great three point shooting ability, but he has also developed a solid rapport with PG T.J. McConnell. Covington has proven to be effective at moving without the ball, driving to the basket, finishing at the basket, and guarding the oppositions' best player, while also capitalizing on his strength of catching and shooting.
This has culminated in Covington averaging 12.6 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game this season, while also guarding the oppositions' best on a nightly basis. With the many 76ers that have suffered injuries, Covington has been the steady hand.
What does Covington bring to the team?
Now, in just his third season in the league, Covington has gone from a Houston cast-off and D-League player to being one of the most valuable players on a team with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jahlil Okafor and many other young players.
One needs to look no further than head coach Brett Brown to find fans of Covington.
What does the coach see in Covington?
Brown, who has been a part of multiple NBA championships as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs has seen many winning players and has experienced the act of developing young players. Having experienced that, Brown knows that with Covington, he has found a winner.
“He came in just sort of as a spray-it-up, catch-shot, long-ball three guy,” said Sixers head coach Brett Brown. “And he helped us coach him to being a two-way-player, that elusive two-way player. And now he’s for real. (Sports Illustrated).
