CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed De’Anthony Melton back to practice on Monday as they look to get healthier amid all of the injuries they have sustained. Melton has missed three games with lumbar spine soreness.
On the season, Melton is averaging 12.1 points, 4 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 36.5% from deep. Philadelphia has missed his defensive prowess on the perimeter in each of its previous two losses, and the Sixers will be happy to have him back on Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Melton beamed on Monday. “I’m feeling better than I was before. First practice back is always a little bit extra, but I felt good today. I got up and down with my guys today and I’m better than I was before.”
He had started all 31 games and is averaging a career-high 29.4 minutes per game playing next to Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt. He attributed those factors to his back beginning to flare up.
“I just think high volume you know what I mean?” Melton explained. “Increased my minutes, increased practice, stuff like that, and just taking a couple of hits, and also, which didn’t help was me getting kneed in my quad today and it kind of shot up into my back a little bit.”
Melton had back issues in the 2022-23 season, but he said this is a different back injury. At this point, he needs to continue to strengthen his back and continue to take some pressure off of it.
“Continue to strengthen everything around it and offload it sometimes, too,” he finished. “I gotta use my glutes (he smiled) pretty much, you know, use my glutes, my hips. So, all that type stuff is gonna play a factor to help me in the long run.”
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