Sixers preseason profile: Nerlens Noel

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The Sixers continued their roster overhaul during the offseason. Over the next three weeks leading up to training camp, we will get to know the team's new players. Today, we look at Nerlens Noel. 

Nerlens Noel
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6-11, 228
NBA experience: Rookie
Last team: Sixers

The play of Nerlens Noel is greatly anticipated. After being acquired in 2013, Noel has rehabbed his knee and rebuilt his shot. Now he is ready to showcase his talents.

The athletic big man is a rim protector. In his one season with Kentucky, he blocked 106 shots. That season was cut short because of a torn ACL in his left knee that required season-ending surgery.

The Sixers cautiously kept Noel out of game action his entire rookie season.

Noel returned to action this past summer. He appeared in five games in the two summer leagues combined. He averaged 3.0 blocks in Orlando and 2.0 blocks in Las Vegas.

He shot 24 for 48 from the field, but more impressive was his making 11 straight free throws to start his summer league play.

During his lone year with the Wildcats, Noel shot a dismal 52.9 percent at the foul line.

Fitting in with the Sixers
Noel assumes the starting center position for head coach, Brett Brown. He will run the court and swat shots. Those are givens, but how well Noel defends the stronger, more experienced NBA centers is unknown.

During the summer leagues, teams attempted to muscle Noel off the low block at both ends of the floor.

Noel will learn to use his athleticism and quickness to counter size and strength of the opposition.

Offensively, Brett Brown's goal for Noel is to have him shoot 60.0 percent from the foul line his first NBA season. Brown believes teams will purposely send Noel to the line, knowing his foul shot was a weakness in college.

Noel will do most of his scoring in the open floor, though he is hopeful to have the foul line jumper become a reliable weapon.

Tidbits
Noel traveled to Spain this summer to watch in person the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Michael Carter-Williams and Joel Embiid joined him. They were on hand to support future teammate Dario Saric, who played for Croatia and will remain overseas playing professionally in Turkey the next couple seasons.

For the second straight season Noel is featured on NBA-TV's series, Rooks. Noel ran the streets of Philadelphia as part of the feature, including running through the Italian Market and up the Art Museum steps. 

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