Dominick Barlow's rise to prominence with the Philadelphia 76ers has been nothing short of impressive. The 22-year-old rookie guard has quickly established himself as a key contributor off the bench, and his skills have earned him a standard contract extension that will keep him in Philadelphia for at least two more seasons.
At first glance, Barlow's deal may seem like a surprise. His salary for the remainder of this season is a significant $3.4 million, which is roughly four times what he would have made if it had come at the minimum salary. However, the value of his prorated salary for 2025-26 puts the Sixers closer to the luxury tax threshold than previously realized.
While Barlow's offensive rebounding percentage may not be elite, his ability to crash the boards and provide opportunities for his teammates has been a game-changer for the team. His work ethic and knack for finding open men have earned praise from head coach Nick Nurse, who describes him as having "a knack for the ball" and continuing to play hard every time he's on the court.
But Barlow's success is not just about statistics – it's also about his mental approach to the game. When asked how he decides whether to kick it out or take a shot after collecting an offensive rebound, he says, "Most teams are crashing, so unless a put-back is clear, personally I think that the best decision is usually a kick-out." This simple yet effective approach has allowed him to make a significant impact on the team.
Meanwhile, Jared McCain's departure from Philadelphia has opened up an opportunity for Trendon Watford to emerge as a key contributor. The 6-foot-8 point forward has been finding his stride with minutes, and his scoring aggression is allowing him to keep defenses honest and punish mismatches.
As the Sixers look to address their needs in the frontcourt, Jabari Walker's future remains uncertain. With his non-Bird rights set to expire, it's unclear whether the team will hold onto him for two-plus months or let him go. If they decide to sign him, he'll be ineligible to play on a standard contract until June 2026.
One thing is clear: the Sixers' next man-up mentality has been invaluable in recent games, and players like Walker are being utilized to maximum effect. As the team navigates its rotation at power forward, it will be interesting to see how they adapt to Watford's pass-first style while also making use of his post game.
For now, Barlow remains the star of the show in Philadelphia, using his skills to make a significant impact on the team. His contract extension is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and it will be exciting to see how he continues to grow with the Sixers over the next two seasons.
At first glance, Barlow's deal may seem like a surprise. His salary for the remainder of this season is a significant $3.4 million, which is roughly four times what he would have made if it had come at the minimum salary. However, the value of his prorated salary for 2025-26 puts the Sixers closer to the luxury tax threshold than previously realized.
While Barlow's offensive rebounding percentage may not be elite, his ability to crash the boards and provide opportunities for his teammates has been a game-changer for the team. His work ethic and knack for finding open men have earned praise from head coach Nick Nurse, who describes him as having "a knack for the ball" and continuing to play hard every time he's on the court.
But Barlow's success is not just about statistics – it's also about his mental approach to the game. When asked how he decides whether to kick it out or take a shot after collecting an offensive rebound, he says, "Most teams are crashing, so unless a put-back is clear, personally I think that the best decision is usually a kick-out." This simple yet effective approach has allowed him to make a significant impact on the team.
Meanwhile, Jared McCain's departure from Philadelphia has opened up an opportunity for Trendon Watford to emerge as a key contributor. The 6-foot-8 point forward has been finding his stride with minutes, and his scoring aggression is allowing him to keep defenses honest and punish mismatches.
As the Sixers look to address their needs in the frontcourt, Jabari Walker's future remains uncertain. With his non-Bird rights set to expire, it's unclear whether the team will hold onto him for two-plus months or let him go. If they decide to sign him, he'll be ineligible to play on a standard contract until June 2026.
One thing is clear: the Sixers' next man-up mentality has been invaluable in recent games, and players like Walker are being utilized to maximum effect. As the team navigates its rotation at power forward, it will be interesting to see how they adapt to Watford's pass-first style while also making use of his post game.
For now, Barlow remains the star of the show in Philadelphia, using his skills to make a significant impact on the team. His contract extension is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and it will be exciting to see how he continues to grow with the Sixers over the next two seasons.
. It just goes to show that if you stay true to yourself and your game, you can achieve great things. He could've taken the easy route and gone for the minimum salary, but he chose to put in the work and now he's reaping the rewards. And I love how he thinks before acting on the court - it's all about being smart and making smart decisions. He's like a teacher, sharing his knowledge with his teammates to help them grow too 
. It's also dope to see the Sixers' next man-up mentality kicking in - they're like, really adaptable and able to make it work with their current roster. Barlow's extension is definitely a testament to that, but also shows how hard he's been grinding to get there 
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I think what's cool about Barlow is how he's using his skills to create opportunities for his teammates. His ability to crash the boards and find open men has been a game-changer for the team. 
his skills are fire 
but let's be real, his contract extension has everyone talking about how he got his 3.4 million 
meanwhile, the rest of us are over here like "hold up, what's my salary looking like??" 
. Plus, his approach to the game makes sense, kickin' it out when necessary. It's all about findin' that balance and Barlow's got it down pat 
. People should give him a break, he's not as bad as people make him out to be 
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. I mean, $3.4 million is a pretty penny for someone who's still finding their footing on the team. It's like they're trying to set a new standard for rookie contracts... or maybe just testing the waters to see if other teams will follow suit? Either way, it's gotta be good for Barlow's ego, right? 
His work ethic and knack for finding open men are definitely key factors in his success, but let's not forget that he's still a 22-year-old rookie playing in the NBA – we'll see how long this whole "being amazing" thing lasts 
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. The guy's been ballin' out of control since he stepped onto the court! But on a more serious note, it's crazy how much value his prorated salary brings to the table for the Sixers. I mean, they're already teetering on that luxury tax line... what if he suffers an injury? 
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. The thing is, Walker's future is super uncertain, and if they decide to sign him, he'll have limited time to prove himself 
. But I think the Sixers are doing a good job of maximizing their roster and making the most of everyone's talents.
. Bring on 2025-26! 
I mean what can u say? The dude's skills r on point & his work ethic is real 
. He's got that knack 4 the ball & coaches love him 4 it. Trendon Watford emerging as a key contributor is a nice plus too, but let's be real Barlow's still the man 
... and his work ethic can't be overstated 
... if they do end up keeping Walker, that is 
on the court, always making those clutch passes and finding open teammates. His work ethic is top-notch and it's awesome to see him earning that extension deal 
. And let's be real, his pass-first approach is a breath of fresh air 
. I'm all about the layout and structure, so how they manage their rotation at power forward is gonna be crucial 
. Barlow's contract extension is a solid move on the 76ers' part 
, but it'll be interesting to see how they balance his development with Watford's emergence 
Barlow's deal is insane! $3.4 million for this season is ridiculous, but like i get it, he's a game changer 
his work ethic and mental approach to the game are so inspiring, im rooting for him big time 