Sixers call up Larry Drew II from developmental league
Larry Drew II grew up around the NBA and now he's finally in it himself. The son of Larry Drew, a former NBA player and head coach and current assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the younger Drew signed a 10-day contract with the 76ers on Friday.
Larry Drew II grew up around the NBA and now he's finally in it himself. The son of Larry Drew, a former NBA player and head coach and current assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the younger Drew signed a 10-day contract with the 76ers on Friday.
A graduate of UCLA, Drew II played the last year and a half for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Developmental League.
The Sixers didn't waste any time using him. He made his NBA debut with three minutes left in the first quarter of Friday's game at the Wells Fargo Center against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Drew summed up how competitive it is in the D-League for players to reach the next level.
"It can get to be like crabs in the bucket, guys trying to crawl over each other to get to the top," he said before Friday's game.
According to Drew, his father was emotional upon hearing the news of his promotion.
"He was actually pretty speechless and was probably more excited than I was," said Drew, who averaged 11 points, 10.1 assist, 3.6 rebounds and 1.86 steals this season in 37.6 minutes per game. "He has been supporting me my whole life, taught me the game and put the ball in my hands."
Drew's mother, Sharon, was in attendance for his first NBA game.
Wroten out
Sixers guard Tony Wroten missed his second game with a right knee sprain and won't make the trip on Saturday to Detroit.
"We can't talk in detail about him yet because we are still exploring stuff and want to deliver something that is 100 percent a decision at this stage and we're not there yet," Sixers coach Brett Brown said.
In addition forward Malcolm Thomas was out with a right lower leg contusion.
Pelicans minus stars
Pelicans center and MVP candidate Anthony Davis and former Sixers point guard Jrue Holiday were sidelined for the game.
Davis suffered a left toe sprain in Wednesday's 105-94 win over Detroit. Holiday missed his second straight game and only second of the season with right ankle inflammation.
Brown said he would have especially liked to see Davis play, because he feels he could be a role model to Nerlens Noel. Both are products of the University of Kentucky.
"He is a legitimate superstar, a legitimate building block and I don't use those words recklessly," Brown said of Davis. ". . .Nerlens can pay attention and he can be a good example for Nerlens."
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