The NBA has been hit hard with COVID issues across the entire league, with multiple teams dealing with health and safety protocols all season long.

The Association responded with 10-day hardship contracts allowing teams to bring in players as emergency relief. Charlie Brown Jr was first brought to the 76ers as relief in the wake of losing Maxey, Shake, and Thybulle, but the former Saint Joseph’s guard has earned himself a two-way deal from the Sixers.

Charlie Brown Jr began his time in the NBA with the 76ers G-League team, the Delaware Blue Coats. Over the past two seasons Charlie would bounce around with stints in Atlanta in 2019 and Oklahoma City in 2020.

Back in December this year as the Mavericks dealt with their own COVID issues he was brought on with a 10-day contract in relief. Through three games Brown Jr only logged 14 minutes and two points across two games.

Then in January Charlie Brown Jr was brought back to Philadelphia with the big league squad this time. Brown Jr would ink his second hardship deal of the season with the 76ers. Brown would see his first action of the season against the Spurs, and put up an impressive defensive stat line in limited minutes.

In 12 minutes on the court Charlie Brown Jr would record a pair of steals, a block, and a nice and-one layup for his first points as a Sixer. Brown would go on to see much more action in Houston, playing 22 minutes off the bench grabbing another pair of steals while giving the Rockets guards fits.

While those stats certainly don’t jump off the page, keep in mind this is coming from a guy on a 10-day contract in pure relief. Charlie Brown Jr has been a nice defensive surprise, and it isn’t shocking to see why.

Brown Jr sits at 6’6″ with guard like speed and above-average wingspan. While there is little room for him offensively on this roster, having a bigger guard that can rebound well off the bench is something the 76ers can benefit from. Now Charlie Brown Jr gets to prove himself more on a two-way deal with the 76ers.

76ers fans should expect to see much more of Charlie Brown Jr in the rotation, especially with COVID continuing to play such a dramatic role on the 2022-23 NBA season.

Plus, who doesn’t like to see a local guy get a shot with the 76ers? Everyone loves the story of a G-league guy getting his shot to prove his worth, and Brown Jr gets to do it on his home turf.

Mandatory Credit: Tim Nwachukwu