The Philadelphia 76ers were expected to roll out a starting backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr., but it seems that’s not set in stone.
Oubre, who stands at 6-foot-8, is seemingly not solidified as their shooting guard. Instead, star Paul George, who is also 6-foot-8, is expected to start in the backcourt next to Maxey, according to The Athletic’s Tony Jones.
“Maxey and George figure to be the starting backcourt,” Jones wrote. “Veterans Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon should be the first guards off the bench.”
The greatest physical difference between Oubre and George is weight. ESPN lists Oubre at 203 pounds while George is marked almost 20 pounds greater (220). Both are respectable shooters from the outside, but the former Los Angeles Clipper did knock down nearly 10% more shots from three-point range last season.
If George does start in the backcourt, it begs the question of what the forward room will look like.
Starting George at the two-guard could simply shift Oubre to the small forward, but is that the more logical approach considering George is of greater size? Some were even speculating George could play power forward, considering he’s also bigger than Caleb Martin.
It’s even possible Oubre or Martin fall out of the starting lineup entirely if Olympics standout Guerschon Yabusele impresses the coaching staff enough. He’s a strong body in the paint, which coach Nick Nurse and the Sixers could desire to start games.
Here are three of the most likely starting lineups for the Sixers if George plays shooting guard:
#1: Maxey, George, Oubre, Martin, Joel Embiid
#2: Maxey, George, Oubre, Yabusele, Embiid
#3: Maxey, George, Martin, Yabusele, Embiid
The large majority of fans still expect Oubre to start at shooting guard, even following Jones’ report.
MORE 76ERS NEWS
Joel Embiid robbed by controversial NBA rule? Retired All-Star thinks so
Cavaliers star disrespected by 76ers legend Charles Barkley in blistering rant
Feb 13, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Mark Cuban laughs during the second half of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat at American Airlines
The Boston Celtics are one of the teams who are expected to be a contender at the end of the season. They are the defending NBA champions, so they feel like the
Nikola Jokić is still rewriting the record books — and treating it like just another day at the office. In a 149-141 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns
The New York Knicks are one of the best teams in the NBA, but as of late, they have been defined more by their struggles than their triumphs.The Knicks are 0-7