Charles Bassey
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Charles Bassey during his time with the San Antonio Spurs in January 2025
The Philadelphia 76ers made a low-key move on Saturday that may not have grabbed headlines, but reflects the franchise’s continued commitment to uncovering value within the NBA’s developmental pipeline.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Sixers are signing center Charles Bassey to a 10-day contract following a standout stretch in the G League with the Golden State Warriors’ affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Shams Charania
The Philadelphia 76ers are signing big man Charles Bassey to a 10-day contract, sources tell ESPN. Bassey is in his fifth NBA season and has averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds for the NBA G League’s Santa Cruz team this year.
The move marks a reunion of sorts. Bassey spent his rookie season in Philadelphia back in 2021-22, making this his second stint with the organization.
Philadelphia 76ers Revisit Familiar Option
Earlier this season, Bassey briefly joined the Memphis Grizzlies on a 10-day hardship contract, appearing in just two games before returning to the G League.
Since December, he has been with Santa Cruz, where his production has been difficult to ignore. Through 10 G League appearances, Bassey averaged 18.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 58.4% from the field.
Notably, he also knocked down 40% of his three-point attempts, going 8-of-20.
His best showing came at the start of 2026, when he erupted for a season-high 34 points in 34 minutes against his former team, the Austin Spurs.
In that outing, Bassey went 13-of-22 from the field, hit three triples, and added 16 rebounds and three blocks.
Despite playing fewer games than many players near the top of the leaderboards, Bassey ranks 12th in the G League in total rebounds (112) and is tied for fifth in blocks (24).
Among centers, his 187 total points rank fifth, while his 73 made field goals sit fourth, showing just how dominant he’s been at the level.
Why the Fit Makes Sense for Philadelphia
As noted by NBA salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan, adding Bassey on a 10-day deal gives the Sixers additional roster flexibility.
It allows Philadelphia to continue utilizing two-way players Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker, with the team having now reached the 90 total two-way games threshold under the “Under-Fifteen Game” rule for teams carrying fewer than 15 standard contracts.
From a basketball perspective, Bassey represents a sensible low-risk evaluation. The 25-year-old has already appeared in 115 NBA games since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2021, including a three-season run with the San Antonio Spurs.
Golden State brought the 6-foot-10 center into its system for a closer look, but despite his production, he remained on a standard G League contract, largely because he is no longer eligible for a two-way deal.
Such contracts are unsecured, meaning Bassey was free to sign with any NBA team without compensation.
Philadelphia took advantage of that flexibility, securing a no-risk look at a productive big man. The Sixers can sign Bassey to a second 10-day contract if they choose, though any further retention would require an end-of-season commitment.
A Growing League-Wide Trend
A similar situation played out earlier this month when the Houston Rockets capitalized on an unsecured G League standout, signing scoring leader Tristen Newton to a two-way deal after he remained on a standard contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.
Recently, the New York Knicks offered another example, poaching versatile guard Dillon Jones from the Portland Trail Blazers’ G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix.
If Philadelphia elects not to retain Bassey beyond this stint, another NBA team could step in.
From a G League standpoint, however, Santa Cruz still controls his player rights, meaning he would return to the Warriors’ affiliate unless another organization trades for those rights.
As the season wears on, moves like this are expected to become more common. Teams out of contention often shut down key players after the All-Star break and shift their focus towards the following season, triggering a familiar wave of G League call-ups and short-term NBA deals.