It appears that the Philadelphia 76ers’ dream of being competitive in the Eastern Conference this season has been shattered with star player Nerlens Noel’s sidelining ACL injury.
Sixers head coach Brett Brown has admitted that Nerlens Noel—who the Sixers acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2013 NBA Draft—will not play this year because of the torn ACL that he suffered at Kentucky back in February.
“I doubt, everybody doubts that he’s going to play this year,” Brown said yesterday. “We don’t want to waste this year. I think from a skill perspective, it’s an opportunity for us to break down his shot, really work on his free throws, and start a little bit from ground zero.”
With that confirmation, the Sixers will likely be one of the worst teams in the league, but that might work in their favor, as they will be getting a high lottery pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Next year’s draft is expected to be stacked with exceptional talent.
Expect it to be a rough start for the Sixers as they kick off the season October 30, against the reigning NBA Champs, the Miami Heat.
