Philadelphia 76ers guard Shaq Milton will appear in just one game to start the 2022-23 season. And he made his debut Monday night in the Sixers’ 120-106 win over the Indiana Pacers.
Head coach Doc Rivers expanded the rotation. However, Milton only played six minutes off the bench. “You can look at it two ways,” Milton told reporters after the game.
According to some NBA betting sites, the 76ers have the eighth-highest odds to win the championship this season. After a 1-3 start to the season, few sportsbooks dropped the Sixers out of the top 10.
I was happy to see Shayk Milton get a chance in the Sixers rotation last night.
Having an additional ball handler with playmaking ability outside of James Harden is a huge asset to the team.
Love this little treat for Embiid for And-1 pic.twitter.com/zsvih7eGEu
— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) October 25, 2022
The 76ers guard continued, “Some people might see it as having that much weight when it comes down to it.” “If you go out there and make a mistake, you have a short leash. Or some men see it as an opportunity.
“You go in there and make something happen, and then you grow and expand. I think you should go out swinging. So I try to make the most of every opportunity I get.”
76ers guard Shaq Milton makes good use of the opportunity when it is presented to him
Rivers sent Milton down the court in the second quarter. “Yeah, we want to add another guy to the rotation,” Rivers said after the win. “Tonight, it was the sheik.”
When asked which bench player has the advantage, Rivers couldn’t answer. Of course, it’s still early in the season. The 76ers’ rotation could change as the season progresses.
“I don’t know yet,” Rivers replied. “Of course I haven’t. Between Matisse [Thybulle] And Sheikh, Furkan Korkmaz… we’re just about to hear it. We really are.
Doc Rivers: “We wanted to add another guy to the rotation, and tonight it was Sheik (Milton).”
Rivers said Milton is “probably the guy in front” for the final spot based on training camp.
— Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) October 25, 2022
Tibul has played in all four games so far this season. But the 25-year-old’s stat line has remained at zeros across the board. Again, Rivers is allowing him to play more than a minute per game.
“Going by camp and stuff, Sheik is probably the guy up front because I think he’s played the best,” Rivers continued. “But that’s not what it means. [for] Games that work the same way.
Last season, in 55 games with the 76ers, Sheik Milton averaged 8.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He only started six games. The guard shot 42.9% from the floor and 32.3% from 3-point range.
During the 2020-21 season, the SMU product averaged a career-high 13 points and 3.1 assists per contest in 63 games. By far, it was the best season statistically of his NBA career. In addition, he averaged 23.2 minutes.
With Milton’s best performances behind them, it’s time to prove the doubters wrong.
