A former Philadelphia 76ers player is getting a shot to join the Orlando Magic for training camp this fall.
Ricky Council IV was added to the club on an Exhibit 10 deal, along with a handful of players, including another one with ties to the Sixers’ organization. Jarron Cumberland is a former Delaware Blue Coats member who will compete alongside Council, Au’Diese Toney, and Ace Baldwin Jr.
Where has Ricky Council been?
Unfortunately, the NBA hasn’t been working out in Council’s favor.
After he spent the 2024-2025 NBA season with the Sixers, Council initially planned to join the Brooklyn Nets, before signing with the Houston Rockets last October. The team quickly waived him to get Council on their G League affiliate squad, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Council appeared in a total of eight games for the Vipers last season. During the Tip-Off Tournament run, Council came off the bench for three games. He averaged 13.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He struggled with his shot, making just 39.4% of his attempts from the field.
During the G League regular season, Council resumed with a bench role. He improved his efficiency slightly, making 41.2% of his field goals and averaging 12.0 points per game. He also came down with 2.8 rebounds per game and dished out 3.6 assists per game.
Over the summer, Council got a chance to play with the Magic, which kept him on their radar. Now, he’s getting an invite to their camp, where he’ll attempt to crack a roster spot. If not that, he’ll get a ticket to continue a G League run with the Osceola Magic.
The Sixers haven’t been proven wrong yet
Council was one of several players during the Daryl Morey era to be viewed as a potential diamond in the rough. He went undrafted out of Arkansas in 2023 and started as a two-way player with the Sixers.
A few months into his NBA career, Council earned a standard contract with the team. He developed into a sort of fan favorite, as his athleticism stood out. Over two years, Council appeared in 105 games.
During the Sixers’ season of health struggles in 2024-2025, Council appeared in 73 games. He averaged a career-high 7.3 points while shooting 38.2% from the field. He also came down with 2.9 rebounds per game and dished out 1.3 assists per game.
It’s not exactly rare for homegrown Sixers players to leave the organization early on in their careers and carve out solid roles for themselves elsewhere. So far, Council hasn’t been the rare case. The 25-year-old is still getting looks, but the 76ers haven’t been proven wrong yet.
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