Sixers center Justin Patton has 8 points, 3 steals in 12 minutes for Delaware Blue Coats
The 7-footer was acquired as part of the trade for Jimmy Butler.
All signs point toward Justin Patton’s being available for an NBA game sometime this season. The 76ers center, who has been sidelined since September, returned to action at noon Tuesday for the Delaware Blue Coats in an NBA G League game against the Austin Spurs in Texas. He finished with eight points, three rebounds and three steals in 12 minutes in the Blue Coats' 119-108 loss.
The Sixers acquired the 7-footer with four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round pick on Nov. 12.
Patton, who attended Creighton, was the 16th pick in the 2017 NBA draft, selected by the Chicago Bulls. He was traded that day with Butler to the Timberwolves. He spent most of the season with the Iowa Wolves, Minnesota’s G League affiliate. The 21-year-old made one appearance (four minutes) with the Timberwolves as a rookie.
Patton, who was out with a broken bone in his right foot when the Sixers acquired him, has been plagued by injuries during his career. The Timberwolves didn’t pick up his third-year option, meaning he’ll become a free agent in July.