Sixers sign Brandon Davies
The Sixers have officially announced the signing of former BYU forward Brandon Davies.
Looking to make his mark in the NBA, forward Brandon Davies didn't stay unemployed very long. The rookie free agent was cut by the Los Angeles Clippers last week, then signed with the 76ers on Sunday and participated in his first practice on Monday.
The 6-foot-10, 240-pound Davies, who averaged 17.7 points and 8.0 rebounds this past season for Brigham Young, participated filled out the roster for the Sixers, who open the NBA season Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center against the Miami Heat.
"I am extremely excited," said Davies, a former teammate of Jimmer Fredette who is third on the BYU career list with 135 games played. "Especially being waived not knowing what would happen and a couple of days later you have a great deal.
Davies earned national attention in March of his sophomore year when he was dismissed from BYU's team after admitting to having premarital sex, which violated the part of BYU's honor code that requires students to live a "chaste and virtuous life."
He was reinstated that September. Davies increased his point and rebound average in each of his four years at BYU.
He competed for the Clippers Summer League team in Las Vegas and averaged 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 15.8 minutes.
That earned him a trip to training camp, where in five preseason games with the Clippers he averaged 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.2 minutes.
"There is a physical, competitive side to him and he is an excellent passer," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. "It is worth reaching out to and bringing him into the program and giving him minutes and seeing what we may be able to uncover."
Davies said competing at training camp for a team that is viewed as a serious Western Conference contender was highly beneficial.
"It was a great opportunity for me to learn from the coaches and to be around that caliber of player," said Davies, who was born in Philadelphia but was raised in Utah. ". . . I think it really added something special to my game and I look at it positively and took a lot from it."
@sjnardpompe