Although Nick Nurse’s approach is comforting the Philadelphia 76ers, the rotation is still a work in progress. This is the exact reason for the inconsistent nature of Robert Covington’s role thus far. Covington’s playing time has changed after he was dealt from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Sixers. He could occasionally check in for more than twenty minutes. He recently received a DNP, though. With the exception of his debut against the Sixers, Covington has made 17 appearances for Philadelphia, making three starts. He played 17.8 minutes a game on average over that period. Initially, Covington was one of Nick Nurse’s go-to backups, but this past week, Covington saw more time on the bench due to Kelly Oubre’s return and Marcus Morris’ recent increase in playing time. Covington played just four minutes in Philadelphia’s second game of the Washington Wizards series, which took place last Wednesday. He saw very little of the court during the game against Atlanta last Friday. During the start of the second quarter of Monday night’s third meeting between the Sixers and the Wizards, Covington made his first appearance in the game. He was playing a major rotational role in the decisive victory over the Wizards once more. Covington spent a total of 14 minutes on the floor. Although the shift wasn’t very long, almost half of the minutes were spent outside of trash time. After playing just four minutes of action in two games, Covington went on to play an important reserve role on Monday. He explained that for a player who doesn’t always have guaranteed minutes, having a certain mindset is essential. Covington clarified on Monday, saying, “You got to be prepared, you got to be a pro, and every time you step on the court, your name gets called, you gotta be prepared.” “That’s it.” Throughout a season, Covington is accustomed to seeing his minutes fluctuate. He played in just 48 games with the Clippers the previous season, averaging 16 minutes per game. During the 2022–2023 season, Covington missed back-to-back games while playing for the Clippers on six separate occasions. “In the end, I experienced the things that I experienced in Los Angeles,” Covington clarified. “The same question is asked by all: ‘How do I stay ready?'” It’s an emotional issue. Covington stated that he is aware that the Sixers are a “deep team,” with a few players who are useful in addition to the starting five and the select few backup players. Nurse isn’t sure about his starting lineup for each game, so Covington just goes into each one with the same mindset. “You just stay ready for whatever happens,” he said in closing.
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