Robert Covington's stats show he's an elite defender
PORTLAND, Ore. - Why not Robert Covington? That's a big question that the NBA all-defensive team's voters will have to answer at the end of the season about the 76ers' unheralded small forward, who has emerged as an elite stopper.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Why not Robert Covington?
That's a big question that the NBA all-defensive team's voters will have to answer at the end of the season about the 76ers' unheralded small forward, who has emerged as an elite stopper.
Covington was the league leader in deflections at 4.2 per game heading into Thursday night's games. The fourth-year veteran was also tied for fourth in the NBA with Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler in steals at 1.91 per game.
So the writers and broadcasters who vote on the all-defensive team will have to ask themselves: Why not include Covington on their ballots?
It can be argued that one of the few things standing in his way is the lack of national exposure because he plays on one of the league's worst teams. The Sixers headed into Thursday night's matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers with a 23-40 record.
The Sixers also had a 51-167 record since Covington - the team's longest-tenured player - signed with them on Nov. 15, 2014.
"Sometimes because of our recent history where we lost a lot . . . people, right now, don't look at us in that lens," coach Brett Brown said. "It's part of the rebuild that we are going through that would hurt somebody like Robert.
"That's because by all standards when you just sort of judge it, he is amongst the NBA elite wing defenders. Period."
Covington headed into Thursday's matchup with 109 steals and 56 blocks. He joined Golden State's Draymond Green, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond as the only players with at least 100 steals and 50 blocks.
He recorded three or more steals for six straight games from Feb. 11-27. In Covington's 57 games played before Thursday, he failed to record at least one steal only nine times.
Yet he's not in the discussion when folks talk about the league's elite defenders.
"I've always been a guy that's overshadowed, under the radar my whole career," Covington said. "So it's nothing new to me. I just continue to work.
"You can't talk about what's being done. You have to show it."
Covington has shown that there's a spot in the NBA for an undrafted forward out of Tennessee State. He was a member of the Houston Rockets as a rookie in the 2013-14 season. However, Covington spent most of that season with the Rockets' NBA Development League team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
He excelled in the D-League, garnering rookie of the year and All-Star Game MVP honors. The Rockets released him during training camp in 2014. Covington was known only for being an exceptional three-point shooter when the Sixers signed him.
Brown, however, challenged the 6-foot-9, 225-pounder with a 7-foot-6 wingspan to also become a lockdown perimeter defender.
Covington, who was averaging 12.4 points, is still a solid three-point shooter. He had a team-leading 117 threes as of Wednesday. The transformation to a three-and-D player occurred last season.
"If you told me Robert Covington would be in consideration for all-defensive team after my first few games with him . . . I would have looked at you sideways," Brown said.
The coach said he's proud of the evolution Covington has made and proud of the Sixers' organization for developing him.
"With that in mind, I feel like that is going to completely help him and his family [in the] future," Brown said. "He will be rewarded. Stuff like that matters."
Covington is in the final year of his contract. The Sixers have until June 30 to decide if they want to sign him for next season at $1.5 million. He would become an unrestricted free agent if the Sixers don't pick up his option.
"As of right now, I'm not even focused on that," Covington said of his contract. "My main focus is on finishing out this year and going into the summer and enjoying it. And looking forward to the offseason and putting in work."
For now, it's hard to second-guess the result he has been getting on defense.
@PompeyOnSixers