Charles Bassey
Playing in the NBA for five years now, Charles Bassey has not exactly been a household name. He began his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, before spending three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. Injuries cut his opportunities a little short, though he did play well as a backup for Victor Wembanyama.
He played two games for the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season but is a free agent at the moment. Well, not any longer. The cat is out of the bag, as Philadelphia has brought Bassey back on a 10-day contract, per Shams Charania.
Joel Embiid has logged 82 out of 101 minutes over the team’s last two games, and it appears they’re looking for another big man to add to that room.
Let’s talk about what the veteran will bring, and how he may be utilized during his time with the Sixers.
Four Years Later, Charles Bassey Back with Sixers
Charles Bassey has appeared in 115 games since entering the association. During his three years with the Spurs, he proved at times that he could be a force on the defensive end. His size and length enabled him to block a whole lot of shots.
Bassey, during his first stint in Philadelphia, was one of the backups for Joel Embiid. He appeared in 23 regular season games, and three more in the playoffs. His time there was brief, but his coming back does reunite him with the former MVP.
Andre Drummond and Adem Bona have taken the backup five minutes this season. Of late, it has been Bona that has been out there, though Drummond has proven his ability to be strong on the glass when he’s been in.
As Bassey joins that room, it may be worth noting that the team has a back-to-back in the coming week. Embiid generally does not play both of the games, so it could open up an actual on-court chance for the new addition.
Plenty of guys have signed these 10-day deals and not gotten on the floor. It is to be determined if it will be the case once again.
What Charles Bassey Has Been Up To
Before joining the Sixers on a 10-day, Charles Bassey had been playing very good ball in the G-League. In 10 regular season appearances for the Santa Cruz Warriors, the big man has averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds, and just over two blocks per contest.
His ability to play like a true big has clearly gotten the attention of his former team. As an added bonus, he’s hitting 40% of his threes on a very limited number of attempts per game. A little bit of floor spacing is just icing on the cake.
Seen below are highlights of a recent game from Bassey where he posted 34 points and 13 rebounds. He is one of those players that is too good for the G-League, but is still looking for a permanent NBA home.
Philadelphia has struggled to produce of late in the minutes when Joel Embiid is not on the floor. Perhaps they could insert Bassey right away to try and inject some new life. Anything can happen on a given night, and there have been past 10-day signings through the years who made real careers out of those initial brief opportunities.
Let’s see if Bassey gets the chance to shine in Philly. If not, well, welcome home. His second stint in the City of Brotherly Love.