Kelly Oubre Jr. has never been shy about speaking his mind, and this week he made sure Philadelphia fans heard him loud and clear. As trade rumors swirl around the 76ers, Oubre took to Instagram to call out sections of the fan base and send a warning to anyone who thinks he’s “garbage.”
“| love Philly, but the love doesn’t seem to be reciprocated. What happened to this place?”
“And for those saying I’m garbage because my 3% went down. $till put up numbers and l’d $Till cook you. I played through finger surgery’s on my (left hand) thumb and pinky for three years, but $ Till put my soul in this shit. That’s one thing only GOD can take from me. Hope to see y’all $oon.”
“Godspeed.”
The comments reflect both pride and frustration. Oubre has become a steady contributor for the Sixers since joining in 2023, averaging 15.3 points and 5.5 rebounds across two seasons.
He’s been a reliable wing for Nick Nurse, defending multiple positions and bringing energy in transition. But despite that, Oubre has found himself at the center of offseason rumors as Philadelphia looks to clear salary to re-sign Quentin Grimes.
From a front-office standpoint, it makes sense. Oubre exercised his $8.3 million player option, making him movable in a league where cap space is everything. But for the player himself, being casually tossed into rumors stings, especially after playing through injuries that tanked his shooting percentages.
Fans have always been hard on their players in Philadelphia, and Oubre is experiencing the city’s notorious toughness firsthand. At the same time, his pushback shows how much he cares. He’s not a mercenary simply passing through; he’s made it clear he wants respect for the sacrifices he’s made on the court.
The irony is that Oubre has been one of the Sixers’ most reliable presences in a turbulent stretch.
Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George all dealt with significant injuries last year, and yet Oubre appeared in 67 games, often taking on expanded roles when the team was short-handed.
For Philly, the problem isn’t whether Oubre can contribute, it’s whether keeping him is worth losing other young talent. With Justin Edwards and VJ Edgecombe waiting in the wings, plus Grimes’ restricted free agency looming, the Sixers face a numbers crunch. That reality doesn’t make Oubre’s production irrelevant, but it does make him expendable.
Still, Oubre’s message is clear: he won’t quietly accept being labeled “garbage.” He feels disrespected by fans who overlook his effort and resilience. And whether or not he’s traded, he’s sending a warning. Kelly Oubre Jr. can still hoop, and anyone doubting him might just find themselves on the wrong end of one of his highlight dunks.
In Philadelphia, passion runs both ways. Oubre has shown he has plenty of it. The question is whether the city will show it back.
