Wing scorer’s team debut a stark contrast to Golden State Warriors stint

Former Golden State Warriors wing Kelly Oubre Jr. has wasted no time making an impact for his new team, lighting up the Milwaukee Bucks and social media in his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Having had to wait till late in the offseason to secure a contract, Oubre finished with a scorching 27 points off the bench for Philly in their 118-117 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Thursday night.

Kelly Oubre Jr’s hot start in Philadelphia couldn’t have been further from his early form with the Golden State Warriors in the 2020-21 season.

The 27-year-old had 10 points in the first-quarter alone, igniting what was an otherwise slow start for the visiting 76ers. Oubre had another eight points in the fourth-quarter as Philadelphia briefly took control with a 100-94 lead.

It wasn’t all positive for the 6’7″ wing though, with Oubre committing an offensive foul followed by a three-point shooting-foul on Damian Lillard across two-straight pivotal possessions in the final minutes.

Oubre’s 27 points and 31 from dynamic young guard Tyrese Maxey ultimately wasn’t enough for the 76ers, with Lillard capping his Bucks debut with 39 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

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Despite the Philadelphia loss, many were left stunned by Oubre’s opening performance for his new team. He finished with 27 points and four rebounds on 9-11 shooting and 5-6 from three-point range, while finishing an equal game-high +14 in over 32 minutes.

Warrior fans must have particularly been amazed given what they saw from Oubre early in his one year tenure with Golden State. The nine-year veteran famously struggled early for the Warriors, shooting a paltry 13.2% from three-point range across the first 10 games.

Oubre did have his moments for Golden State, but shot just 31.6% from deep in what was ultimately a disappointing season with the franchise. He left for the Charlotte Hornets in 2021 free agency, playing two years that included averaging over 20 points per game last season.

Scoring has never been an issue for Oubre who averages nearly 13 points per game in his career. It’s the consistency and efficiency that’s often been a question mark, leaving many Warrior fans frustrated across his 55 games with the team.