Kelly Oubre Jr. picks up $8.4 million player option to run it back with the 76ers

Before free agency could officially begin, the Sixers locked in one of their own. Kelly Oubre Jr. is picking up his $8.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season, according to Shams Charania.

Kelly Oubre Jr. picks up $8.4 million player option to run it back with the 76ers

Kelly Oubre Jr. is picking up his $8.4 million player option for next season to return to the 76ers, per @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/yYfDqc4stF

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 29, 2025

It’s not a blockbuster move, but it’s a solid W for a Sixers team that desperately needs reliable wing production and frankly, guys who just want to be here.

Kelly Oubre Jr was one of the lone bright spots on a team that spiraled late last season. He averaged 15.1 points on 47% shooting, started 57 of the 60 games he played, and gave the Sixers some much-needed edge on both ends. For long stretches, he was their second-best player behind Maxey while Embiid was out.

He also missed the final month with a knee sprain, but by that point, the Sixers were in full stealth-tank mode, protecting their top-10 pick. Mission accomplished. Now they bring back a guy who showed he can produce without needing plays drawn up for him.

$8.4 million is a good deal for a starting two-way wing. Kelly Oubre Jr offers Nick Nurse lineup options — he can defend various positions, run fast breaks, and take advantage of defensive lapses. The Sixers retain a reliable player instead of risking a cheaper unknown in free agency.

This Sixers roster still needs major upgrades. But keeping Oubre in the fold is a smart, low-risk move for a team trying to balance star-chasing with actual roster construction. There’s no downside here. He plays hard. He fits. And he wants to be here. You take that every time.

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