Council indicators hard-earned new deal; Nurse says he is ‘proper on the sting’ of rotation initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Philadelphia
CAMDEN, N.J. — Ricky Council IV shall be eligible for the NBA playoffs in in his rookie yr.
The Sixers introduced Saturday that they signed Council, who’d been on a two-way deal, to a normal NBA contract.
Council’s new deal is for 4 years and $7.4 million, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported.
Undrafted following his junior season at Arkansas, Council started this season with the Delaware Blue Coats. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 23.8 factors, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists general within the G League whereas exhibiting vital progress together with his leap shot.
After going 28.4 % from three-point vary over his final two faculty seasons, Council made 38 % of his G League triples and tried 6.0 per recreation.
“Simply believing in myself and staying centered,” Council mentioned on Jan. 2 after making his Sixers debut. “A few months in the past, no one thought I might even hit the rim. Now I’m again to my outdated self. Simply wish to keep per it and the sky’s the restrict.”
Council has exuded each confidence and maturity within the NBA. He’s anticipated himself to be nice whereas recognizing the Sixers don’t need him to do all of it. The 22-year-old has typically offered stable, bodily protection, drawn fouls at a excessive fee, and prevented rash selections. Council has dedicated simply 4 turnovers in 281 whole minutes.
In his first prolonged NBA likelihood exterior of rubbish time, Council was unbelievable. He posted a 19-point, 10-rebound recreation within the Sixers’ Feb. 10 highway win over the Wizards and performed with distinctive tenacity.
“I simply really feel like I’m a canine,” Council mentioned that night time. “Lots of people say it, however not lots of people are about it. Once I’m on the market … I don’t know, I can’t actually clarify it. I don’t see nothing however the aim and my teammates. It doesn’t matter — LeBron (James), one of the best gamers on the earth. A lot respect to them, however I’m simply attempting to assist my workforce win once I’m on the market.”
Different highlights for Council this season embrace clutch free throws towards the Cavs and many late-game excellence within the Sixers’ double-overtime victory Sunday over the Spurs.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse was filled with reward for Council following the workforce’s observe Saturday. And with out prompting, he raised the opportunity of Council being known as upon for significant playoff minutes.
“Initially, I feel that’s a heck of an accomplishment for him,” Nurse mentioned. “I’d’ve mentioned sure, we had been excited on draft night time once we acquired him to agree to return play for us. I believed his summer season league was so-so. However since then, man, he’s actually accomplished an important job. He’s completely earned this spot with all the pieces he’s accomplished. I hold saying this: He competes. On daily basis he goes onerous right here. … Walkthroughs or no matter, he’s doing them onerous.
“His taking pictures has improved. He’s acquired a novel type of athleticism that lets him drive and draw fouls. He’s a bit bit versatile on protection. He can guard on the perimeter. He can guard up, once more due to his athleticism.
“I’d say there have been at the least thrice final night time (vs. the Magic) I nearly pulled the set off to place him within the rotation. So he’s proper on the sting of that, relying on what we’re seeing, who’s on the market, what the foul hassle is and all that type of stuff. We really feel like, similar to within the San Antonio recreation, he’s a bit little bit of an X-factor man. He can go in there and typically simply change power and alter rhythm or make a number of performs. So I’m actually blissful for him.”
