76ers Sign Former College Star Before NBA Season Starts

Former Syracuse college guard Judah Mintz has signed a deal with the Eastern Conference powerhouse Philadelphia 76ers.

76ers play-by-play TV announcer Matt Murphy shared the news via Twitter/X.

Prior to the 76ers signing Mintz, he was a part of their Summer League team in Las Vegas. With the 76ers in the Summer League, Mintz averaged 12.4 points per game.

Mintz went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft and later signed with the 76ers. He made a great impression on them after his performance, but before that, he was a standout at Syracuse University.

As a freshman, he entered the season as a starter at guard. He was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman team after averaging 16.3 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game; after the season, Mintz declared for the 2023 NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility. He ultimately withdrew his name from the draft and opted to return to Syracuse for his sophomore season.

Mintz’s sophomore season was remarkable. He averaged 18.8 points per game, 4.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 28.2 percent from three in 32 games and 33.9 minutes of action.

Mintz declared for the 2024 NBA Draft in early April, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. The 21-year-old stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 185 pounds. The new Philadelphia guard attended high school powerhouses at Gonzaga College in Washington, D.C., and finished his high school career at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.

Before he entered Syracuse, he was rated a four-star recruit. He initially committed to playing basketball for Pittsburgh but later decommitted to play for the Orange.

The Philadelphia 76ers will enter this season as one of the favorites to win an NBA title. Although the 76ers have come up short in recent years, the organization and its fan base hope that their fortunes will turn this season.

The 76ers signed one of the top free agents on the market, forward Paul George, this offseason. George will now join superstar Joel Embiid and up-and-coming star Tyrese Maxey.

The 76ers’ win total is set at 52.5, which puts them fourth overall, behind teams like the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and New York Knicks. According to Oddshark, the 76ers have +900 odds to win the NBA title and +450 odds to win the Eastern Conference.

It’s unclear what role Mintz will play for the 76ers, but one thing is for sure: they will be in the running for a title this season.