NBA Philadelphia 76ers

K.J. McDaniels Proving To Be Key Piece In Philadelphia 76ers’ Rebuild

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By @Greg_Sacidor

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The core of the Philadelphia 76ers‘ roster is headlined by young players such as Michael Carter-Williams, Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Tony Wroten, but early on in the 2014-15 NBA season K.J. McDaniels is looking to join this group.

A rookie out of Clemson University, McDaniels was selected by the 76ers with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Coming out of college, McDaniels was known for his defensive abilities as he was named the 2014 ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

With players such as Carter-Williams and Embiid missing a significant amount of time due to injury and an overall depleted roster around him, McDaniels has seen a significant amount of playing time early on. Coming off of the bench for head coach Brett Brown, McDaniels has averaged 22.0 minutes per game, good for seventh most on the team.

Through five games, McDaniels has capitalized on all of his playing time. His defensive abilities have stood out the most so far, especially his three-block performances against both the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. However, McDaniels’ highly touted defensive abilities aren’t the only thing impressing the 76ers so far this season.

On the offensive end of the court, McDaniels has shown that if he has time to get off his slower than usual shot, then he has the ability to score from the outside. McDaniels has also shown on several occasions that he has extreme athleticism that allows for him to finish almost any alley-oop in transition. Through his first five games, McDaniels has scored in double figures three times, as well as registering many astounding highlights.

By taking advantage of his playing time and showing that he is more than just a defensive stopper, McDaniels is quickly moving up in coach Brown’s rotation. His highlight dunks and his chase-down blocks are also quickly making him a fan favorite. If McDaniels can continue to develop his skills and produce at the level he is currently, then he is sure to find himself as one of the key pillars upon which the foundation of the 76ers is built.

Greg Sacidor is a Philadelphia 76ers and NBA writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Greg_Sacidor or add him to your network on Google. 

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