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Jaden Springer Finished G League Year Leading Notable Stat

Originally posted on Philadelphia 76ers on SI
By Justin Grasso | Last updated 3/29/23

With the 2022-2023 NBA G League season wrapped up, Philadelphia 76ers sophomore Jaden Springer finished the year as the steals champion.

Springer averaged a league-leading 2.3 steals per game, confirming to many what they knew about the former first-round pick; he’s a threat on the defensive end of the floor.

While Springer is still a developmental piece for the Sixers, the team was encouraged by his defensive growth from training camp up until now. On multiple occasions, this season, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers claimed that Springer is on his way to becoming an elite defensive player.

By leading the G League in steals during his second season, Springer is proving that he has the tools to potentially back Rivers’ claims from earlier in the year, especially when it comes to perimeter defense.

Beyond his steals, Springer had an overall impressive second season with the Blue Coats. In 24 games, Springer averaged 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a block. He drained 49 percent of his field goals and 32 percent of his threes.

The next step for Springer is to carve out a role for consistent minutes on the Sixers’ main roster. Over the last two seasons, Springer has appeared in just 16 games. This year, he’s spent an average of four minutes on the court when he received playing time.

With limited playing time comes limited production, but Springer’s value on the defensive end has shined bright in the handful of games he played for Philly this year. Springer averaged just one rebound and 0.4 steals in the 14 games he played this season.

Those stats are especially impressive per 36 minutes, as they translate to 8.2 rebounds and 4.1 steals. Springer is still a work in progress for the Sixers, but his defensive development should be enough for him to legitimately compete for a reserve role in year three.

This article first appeared on Philadelphia 76ers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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