Mad Ants forward Alex Poythress received the call he had been waiting for over the weekend. On Saturday, the Philadelphia 76ers called him up for a 10-day contract.
The 76ers were able to sign Poythress without waiving a player after they received the NBA’s roster hardship exception for numerous injuries at once to a team.
Poythress, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Kentucky, has had a quality first season as a pro. Starting in 45 of 46 games played with the Mad Ants, Poythress averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and he shot 52.7 percent from the field.
The Pacers invested $35,381 in guaranteed money for Poythress, who then was waived in camp — they already had 15 guaranteed contracts — and spent the season with their D-League affiliate in Fort Wayne. This 10-day stint with the 76ers is worth $31,969 to the 23-year-old, more than a D-League contract.
SEE ALSO: Poythress in August on joining the Pacers: ‘All I wanted was an opportunity’
In his first NBA regular-season game, with the 76ers (28-49) on Sunday in Toronto, Poythress finished with 11 points and three rebounds in 24 minutes.
11 PTS / 3 REB / 19 MIN@AlexTheGreat22 debut highlights ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/MmEq6iL4Qq
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 3, 2017
So happy that @AlexTheGreat22 is taking advantage of a great opportunity in Philly. How about @tulis3?! Almost had a triple-double. Wow!!!
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) April 3, 2017
Poythress helped the Mad Ants to a 30-20 regular-season record that led to a playoff berth. They open the postseason Tuesday at home against the Maine Red Claws.
[Photo: Mad Ants/Ron Hoskins]