When the Philadelphia 76ers unveiled their 2024 NBA Summer League roster, all eyes were on veteran guard Jeff Dowtin. Initially slated to only play in Utah, fans were taken aback when plans shifted, including him in the Las Vegas lineup. Dowtin’s Las Vegas debut has now become a hot topic, generating buzz and anticipation among fans and analysts alike.
The Sixers’ Gamble: Will Jeff Dowtin’s Las Vegas Debut Pay Off?
Dowtin is now set to participate in the Sixers’ Las Vegas opener against the Detroit Pistons, as reported by Derek Bodner of PHLY. This move comes after his appearances in three Salt Lake City games, marking a pivotal change in his Summer League journey.
Jeff Dowtin’s NBA path has been anything but smooth since going undrafted in 2020. Over the 2021-2022 season, he played nine games across three different teams, searching for a place to call home. His longest stint came with the Toronto Raptors the following year, where he averaged ten minutes per game across 25 games, scoring two points per match with a respectable 44% shooting accuracy.
In the 2023-2024 season, Dowtin joined the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers’ G League affiliate. His impressive performance earned him a two-way contract with the 76ers in March, which quickly transitioned to a standard deal a month later. Reuniting with coach Nick Nurse, Dowtin achieved career highs, averaging four points and two rebounds per game, with a 56% shooting rate over 12 games.
However, the Sixers declined Dowtin’s team option as the 2024 free agency period loomed, leaving him without any lucrative offers. Now, the Summer League presents a golden opportunity for Dowtin to prove his worth. While initially planning to skip the Vegas run, this twist of fate might just be the break he needs to secure a new contract.
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