Blue Coats Notes: Checking In With Sixers’ McClung, Springer

After checking out Sixers players Mac McClung, Jaden Springer, and Louis King in Delaware with the Blue Coats, here are the takeaways.

The Philadelphia 76ers are back on the court Thursday night to host the Memphis Grizzlies. Before the Sixers are set to take the floor on Thursday, their G League affiliate squad, the Delaware Blue Coats, fired up a matchup against the Motor City Cruise.

As expected, Philadelphia’s second-year first-round pick Jaden Springer was on board with the team as he was assigned to Delaware for the night. Also suiting up alongside Springer was the two-way prospects Louis King and Mac McClung.

The matchup was a tight battle to start. Through the first quarter of action, the Blue Coats were slightly outscored by the Cruise 38-35. In the second quarter, Delaware started to pull away a bit as they found a ten-point advantage. 

Going into halftime, the Blue Coats possessed a seven-point lead over Motor City. The Blue Coats continued finding success on offense in the third quarter. As they drained nearly 50 percent of their shots, Delaware managed to outscore the Cruise by one point before heading into the fourth quarter.

With a 96-88 lead, it seemed the Blue Coats were primed to run away with a comfortable victory. However, Delaware ran out of steam instead. By getting outscored 28-15 in the fourth quarter, the Cruise put together a late comeback and snatched a five-point win over the Blue Coats.

What Stood Out From Sixers Prospects?

Mac McClung is Exhausted

Blue Coats head coach Coby Karl noted after the game that the purpose of the All-Star break is to give players an opportunity to rest and recover. McClung did the total opposite. Last Friday, he participated in the Rising Stars Game. On Saturday, he battled in the Slam Dunk Competition. 

While McClung didn’t play in the G League Next Up Game on Sunday, he had countless appearances and media obligations to run through. It was a long weekend in Utah, and clearly, the events caught up to him on Wednesday night.

From the field, McClung shot 2-9. He missed all but one of his four three-pointers. Delaware played ten players on Wednesday. Only three of them failed to notch double-digit points. McClung, who started and played for 25 minutes, was one of them.

It might not have been a show-stopping follow-up performance after the Dunk Contest built a ton of hype around McClung, but it’s clear he wasn’t the best version of himself, and it’s easy to understand why.

On the Flipside…

So, McClung wasn’t the best scoring version of himself on Wednesday, but he did flash some impressive playmaking ability. The young guard produced seven assists during his 25-minute shift. He turned the ball over just one time.

The world will recognize McClung as a great dunker, but being a Slam Dunk Champion isn’t the peak the young guard is striving for. The next step for McClung is proving to the Sixers and other teams that he brings more to the table and can impact the game in different ways. While he didn’t sniff his season average of 18 points per game on Wednesday, McClung still left his imprint on the game with his playmaking.

The Development of Jaden

Despite being a first-round pick, Jaden Springer hasn’t shown much on the floor for the Sixers. It seems every other day, Springer’s recalled to the Sixers and assigned to the Blue Coats. When he comes to Philly, he’s a depth piece that plays in garbage time only. With the Blue Coats, he’s a full-time starter.

Going into Wednesday’s game, Springer averaged 18 points and two assists while hitting on 54 percent of his shots and knocking down 31 percent of his threes. It was good to see Springer hunting threes and displaying confidence in his deep ball. However, the efficiency wasn’t there, as he drained just 29 percent of his seven three-point attempts.

Springer’s defense remains his strong suit. While his offensive production is still a work in progress, seeing that he’s able to make quick decisions and shoot the ball with confidence is great for his development. Overall, he wrapped up the night with 14 points, two rebounds, four steals, and one block.

A Sample of Louis King

Since signing a two-way deal with the Sixers, Louis King has joined the team for one practice and has yet to suit up for a game in South Philly. Meanwhile, in Wilmington, King appeared in 19 games.

He averages 16 points, six assists, and five rebounds. From the field, King shoots 50 percent while hitting on 42 percent of his threes. 

In the first half of Wednesday’s game, King stood out the most. He kept Delaware alive with his efficient shooting, knocking down four of his shots, with three makes from beyond the arc. After scoring 11 points in the first quarter, King was quiet for the rest of the night, and his fourth-quarter ejection with nine minutes left contributed to that. Beyond that outstanding first quarter, he took just three more shots. He finished the night with 16 points, four assists, and one steal.

Some Former Sixers

Michael Foster Jr.: The Sixers’ former two-way center was active on both ends of the floor. He scored 18 points on 60 percent shooting and threw down a powerful dunk that sent tons of energy throughout the Fieldhouse. He also had eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. At 20 years old, Foster Jr. could be an intriguing prospect for teams to snag him on a two-way in the future.

Braxton Key: Playing against his former team, Key led the Blue Coats in minutes played by checking in for a 35-minute shift. He knocked down seven shots from the field and scored 18 points alongside Foster as the two led Delaware in scoring. Key made it a double-double night with 12 rebounds.

Charlie Brown Jr.: Brown truly seems to be the Blue Coats’ energy guy off the bench. He collected ten points while producing three assists and snatching a steal. Brown was whistled for four fouls and, unfortunately, had a team-leading four turnovers. 

Top Storylines From Wednesday 

• Doc Rivers and the Sixers React to McClung

• Mac McClung Waiting for His Opportunity in the NBA

• McClung Ready to Bounce Back After Tough Night

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.