JANUARY 5: Key’s 10-day contract with the Sixers is now official, according to the team (Twitter link). It will run through January 14, covering Philadelphia’s next five games.
JANUARY 4: The Sixers are set to call up forward Braxton Key using a 10-day hardship exception deal, per Kyle Neubeck of the Philly Voice. Key is currently playing with Philadelphia’s NBA G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.
Neubeck adds that Key, 24, could suit up for the Sixers as early as Wednesday against the Magic, provided he clears the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
The 6’8″ forward went undrafted out of Virginia, with whom he won the 2019 NCAA title, in 2020. He first signed with the Blue Coats during the 2020/21 season. Key is averaging 13.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.9 SPG and 1.2 BPG across 15 games with Delaware this year.
The Sixers currently have five players still in the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, though point guard Myles Powell could be available in time for the team’s Orlando game.
Shooting guard Charlie Brown Jr. is the only other player on the Philadelphia roster currently signed to a 10-day hardship exception contract.