CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — As 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. returns to the lineup, he isn’t saying much about the hit-and-run last month that caused him to suffer a fractured rib.
Oubre spoke after practice Monday for the first time since the Nov. 11 incident but shed little light on what happened.
“I’ve spoken to the police about this situation and they have an ongoing investigation,” Oubre told reporters. “I’ve spoken to who I need to speak to about it, and I’ll keep it where that is. I won’t be speaking on any details about that because they are looking into it.”
Police last month said Oubre was struck in the chest by the driver’s side mirror of a silver vehicle at Spruce and Hicks streets before the vehicle left the scene. Police said no video of the incident was found, and investigators tell KYW Newsradio there have been no significant developments in the investigation since then.
As for those who questioned the veracity of Oubre’s story, the Sixers guard said it was difficult to deal with.
“This was and is a very traumatic situation for me and my family,” Oubre said. “I just wish that my life wasn’t like ‘The Truman Show,’ where everybody can kind of watch it and have their own opinion about my life.”
He continued: “I’m just really blessed that it wasn’t worse than what it is and that I’m able to come back to work and smile and walk and talk and breathe. It was, what they say, a minor setback for a major comeback, right? Like, I’m ready to hoop, man. This has been a long process for me and I’m ready to finally be with my guys and perform, go to war with Coach and make the organization look good.”
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse says Oubre will be cleared to return to the lineup for Wednesday’s game in Washington.
“If everybody’s healthy, he’s coming off the bench and he’s coming, probably, pretty early,” Nurse told reporters. “We’re going to try to fire him right back in there.”