The Sixers on Friday locked in second-round pick Charles Bassey.
The 20-year-old signed a rookie contract with the Sixers, the team announced Friday. Sources confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia that the deal is for three years, with Year 1 fully guaranteed and Year 2 partially guaranteed. Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported the contract details.
Bassey traveled to Las Vegas with the Sixers’ summer league team but did not play. A source said last month that Bassey and the Sixers were working through the terms of his deal.
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A native of Lagos, Nigeria, Bassey suffered a left tibial plateau fracture during his sophomore season at Western Kentucky. He returned for his junior year and won Conference USA Player of the Year, averaging 17.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks.
“He’s a (former) top-10 high school recruit," Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said after drafting Bassey. “(He’s) someone who can shoot. I think with the bigs we’re bringing in, we want to make sure they’re either switchable or can shoot. Charles has versatility there.”
The Sixers currently have Andre Drummond and Paul Reed as center options behind Joel Embiid, though Bassey thinks he has tools that can immediately help the team.
“I feel like my defensive side of the game for sure,” he said on July 31. “My rebounding; switching on screens; blocking shots. … Playing hard every possession on both ends of the floor, I’m a guy who’s going to do that every time. Just giving the team a different look every night. I’m going to do my job and play my role as the team needs me.”
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Bassey is one of two big men the Sixers took in the draft. Filip Petrušev will play in Turkey next season for Anadolu Efes.
The Sixers will hold media day Monday at the team's practice facility in Camden, New Jersey. Training camp will begin Tuesday.