With the Philadelphia 76ers concluding their 2026 playoff run on Sunday, several players are heading into the offseason with question marks regarding their future with the team.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is one of them. The standout forward’s two-year deal is expiring at the end of the league year, and he’s set to become a free agent once again.
Following the Game 4 loss against the New York Knicks, Oubre addressed questions regarding his future.
Kelly Oubre Speaks On 2026 NBA Free Agency
“I love it here, of course, but this is not my first rodeo,” Oubre told reporters after Sunday’s loss.
“I’ve averaged 20 points in this league and still found myself barely getting any contracts. At the end of the day, man, I’ve learned so much. The game of basketball has reinvented itself to me through different lenses and different eyes throughout my tenure here. I’m forever appreciative for the opportunity to play for this city. I don’t like how it ended, so I always say I like to finish what I start. This is a bit sour for me.”
The 2025-2026 NBA season made something very clear about Oubre: the veteran forward is consistent.
In 50 games, Oubre saw the court for 31.5 minutes per matchup. The forward shot 46.7% from the field and hit on 36.0% of his threes. He posted averages of 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
This season was Oubre’s top shooting year from beyond the arc, as he attempted 4.8 shots from deep per game.
“At the end of the day, it’s already written. God already has it written up, and it’s just going to follow through. I hope I did myself a good service by, you know, being more efficient, slowing down, and, you know, just playing better overall basketball. And, you know, just continue to grow as a human being and as a player. So you know, it’s already written. We’ll see where the chips fall.”
Possibly The End Of Oubre’s Sixers Run
After the 2022-2023 NBA season, Oubre hit the free agency market, following a two-season stint with the Charlotte Hornets.
Initially, Oubre signed a one-year deal with the Sixers for the minimum. After an impressive 2022-2023 season, the veteran forward hit the free agency market with better value. He returned to the 76ers on a two-year deal, worth $16.3 million.
Last year, Oubre’s final $8.3 million salary was a player option, which he picked up.
At 30 years old, with 11 years under his belt, Oubre has proven to be a quality role player for a playoff-contending team. The Sixers shouldn’t rule out a return, but they certainly won’t be able to guarantee one.