The 76ers are standing by Kelly Oubre Jr. despite police saying they have yet to find video evidence of an alleged hit-and-run that left the Philadelphia star injured.
On Saturday night, Oubre suffered a broken rib and sustained bruises after he allegedly was struck by a vehicle near his Center City home while crossing the street as a pedestrian.
After the alleged incident, authorities told ABC 6 in Philadelphia that a silver car was seen fleeing the scene.
On Wednesday, Philly police officer Miguel Torres told the Associated Press in an email that so far “No video has been recovered,” in regard to the alleged incident.
And, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Sgt. Eric Gripp said that while there has not been any evidence found of a hit-and-run on Saturday night, he is not accusing Oubre of making up a lie.
In the middle of all this, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said he has his player’s back.
“I don’t think it’s very fair to him to say that he made up some story,” Nurse said before the 76ers’ 117-107 loss to the Celtics, according to The AP. “I just don’t. I’m going to believe him at his word. He’s one of our players and we’re going to stand behind him. And so am I. … I don’t have any reason not to believe him.”
Oubre’s timetable for a return likely will be in weeks, not months.
“There’s a realistic expectation that he could be back in two-plus weeks,” Adrian Wojnorowski said on ESPN later in the day. “Perhaps the end of November, beginning of December.”
Though no video of the incident has been found, TMZ obtained footage of Oubre returning home after the alleged hit-and-run with a bicycle in his hands and telling his wife, Shylynn, that he was hit by a car.
After that, according to the outlet, Oubre was then transported to a Philadelphia hospital by ambulance.
According to the AP, Oubre has begun “light physical activity, ” which has included using an exercise bike, with the hope of returning in “the coming weeks.”
Oubre is a new member of the team and the city of Philadelphia area after joining the team this offseason on a one-year, $2.9 million contract.
After recording a career-high 20.3 points per game with the Hornets last year, Oubre was averaging 16.3 points and 5.1 rebounds over his first eight games with the Sixers.