As this series has tackled, the Sixers did pretty well on the two-way market in the 2025 offseason. Jabari Walker, along with Dominick Barlow, was picked up and eventually given a standard contract by the Sixers. Last season Walker played 64 games and started six of them. He averaged 11 minutes a game and put up 4.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
He shot 45% from the field and 33% from three on 1.5 attempts per game. The highlight of his season was a 22-point outburst against the Utah Jazz in early March. Back under contract for another year in Philadelphia, Walker finds himself in a similar situation to last season and that is on the fringes of the rotation.
Nagging injuries to forwards like Paul George and Trendon Watford helped keep Walker steadily in the mix, even though he didn’t feel like he was the most trusted reserve by Nick Nurse. Walker’s best skill is one that’s been sorely needed on this team for several years now: defensive rebounding.
Walker has always posted a strong rebounding rate on that end of the floor and last year was no different as he posted a defensive rebounding rate at 32.5%. For as splashy of an offseason as the Sixers had, the only big they brought in, Ariel Hukporti, had a poor rebounding season in his limited time last year. It’s always good to have someone on the bench who can just grab a board.
That impact on the offensive glass isn’t felt quite as much, which is unfortunate, but Walker’s 3.3% offensive rebounding rate still puts him the 66th percentile across the league. He isn’t the fleetest of foot, which can make it tough to find the right spot defensively. At 6-foot-10, he can only challenge big centers so much vertically, and he can have trouble staying with certain forwards.
With that being said, Walker’s been a capable innings eater at times who is also now someone who can occasionally step out and hit an open three. Neither the volume or percentage are anything to write home about, but his big game against the Jazz, as well his 38.9% three-point percentage in his final season in Portland, show proof of concept. His shot is something the team does believe in and encourages him to keep shooting. He at least gives you the idea of a stretch-five in certain matchups, another look the Sixers haven’t had a ton of in the Joel Embiid era.
Walker will also again coming into this season motivated to keep his spot. On top the perpetual drive to earn the next contract, only $250,000 of Walker’s $2.5 million dollar salary is guaranteed before Jan. 15. The Sixers of course have an open roster spot, but have to wait until December to be able to use it while not going over the first apron.
If, for some reason, the Sixers really need to sign someone before then, Walker’s non-guaranteed deal is the only contract that could make that work. Knock on wood, but something would have to go really, really terrible for the Sixers to feel that desperate just to clear up another veteran’s minimum spot.
The Sixers have also already taken measures to be able to retain Walker while adding the veterans they did bring in this summer. The team attached a second-round draft pick to be able to trade Johni Broome away, allowing the Sixers to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. That felt like a pretty clear message that the Sixers do value Walker for the time being.
These additions, especially now that Dean Wade will be coming off the bench, may have pushed Walker even further down on the depth chart. At the same time, there are just as many concerns about the playability of both true backup centers on the roster in Hukporti and Adem Bona. As rim-running pogo sticks, they are certainly a different look. Once again this season, Walker’s minutes may not come consistently, but he should get some chances to earn them.
