The Philadelphia 76ers have seen a lot of players come and go over the years, especially in recent seasons. That has particularly been the case since the franchise went through its audacious tanking the days nominally called The Process, although that persists to this day.
Given their lack of meaningful playoff success and their routinely changing nucleus aside from Joel Embiid, the 76ers have made a lot of changes to the roster on the margins over the years. The continuity that is characteristic of perennial contenders has been elusive for them.
That also applies to the players they have drafted. This season has actually been an aberration in that the 76ers have five players in the lineup whom they selected in the draft, but usually, the front office has resorted to external help to primarily build the roster.
For one of the players they drafted, a short-lived stint with the franchise (and the league at large) is simply not cutting it.
Former 76ers big man Filip Petrusev aims NBA return
Filip Petrusev, whom the 76ers selected with the 50th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is reportedly attempting an NBA comeback.
”I would love to return to the NBA, and hopefully as soon as possible,” he said. “It’s always better to go there earlier rather than waiting until the later years of your career. I didn’t have much luck in Philadelphia… Just when I started getting some minutes, the trade happened and everything fell apart.”
Petrusev was a highly touted prospect out of Serbia, although his draft standing does not reflect that. Still only 25 years of age, Petrusev hopes to make it back to the league after a forgettable stint in the NBA. He played just three total games in the league, two with the 76ers and one with the Kings before the latter waived him early last season.
The 6’11” big man spent the last two seasons in the Euroleague, and while there is little sample from which NBA clubs can draw from, he profiles as a viable floor-stretching big who offers a valuable skill set given today’s league trends.
Petrusev has also become a staple in the Serbian Men’s National Basketball Team, easily one of the most lethal squads in the international scene.
Furthermore, Petrusev added that he always envisioned an NBA comeback. As a result, his contracts in the Euroleague have had NBA-out clauses just like most players who have gone to Europe to resume their basketball careers.
Hopefully, Filip Petrusev gets the chance he deserves. Even if the Philadelphia 76ers end up not being the team that ushers in his comeback, there is too much promise to just forego with the Serbian big man.
