2026 NBA draft profile: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Joshua Jefferson
· Yahoo Sports
With the 2026 NBA draft fast approaching, the first round is on June 23, now's the time to look at some potential options for the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 22 pick. If one wants to look at Sixers Wire's draft big board, one can do so here.
This series will focus on specific players. The Sixers have a first-round pick thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets. After a trip to Round 2 of the playoffs, the Sixers have an opportunity to add to the roster and get themselves another talented young piece around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future.
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Next up in this series is Iowa State big man Joshua Jefferson:
Strengths
A physical player coming from an athletic family, his brother Cameron Jefferson was an offensive lineman with the Denver Broncos in the NFL and brother Noah Jefferson was a defensive lineman for USC and Florida Atlantic, Joshua Jefferson brings that physicality and strong frame to the basketball court. He is tough on the glass, makes plays in the paint, and is able to swing games in his team's favor with his ability to snatch down offensive rebounds and end defensive possessions with a rebound. Jefferson was able to pull down 1.9 offensive rebounds in 2025-26 on his way to averaging 7.4 rebounds on the season.
The big man was able to make plays with his passing as he was an underrated playmaker in college. He averaged 4.8 assists in 2025-26, a big jump from the 3.1 he averaged in 2024-25, and he would direct traffic from the nail as one of the bigger and more physical players out on the floor. That type of skill combined with his ability to throw his body around and really get after it is going to make him a special player at the next level.
Weaknesses
He is an inconsistent 3-point shooter, which limits his shot diet a bit on offense, but a little work with coach Nick Nurse and Co. should do him some good in that respect. A real concern would be the lack of athleticism. While he is a physical player with an NBA-ready body and strong hands--which will serve him well in pick-and-roll situations--Jefferson will be limited in some areas. He does rely on his IQ--which is extremely high--more often than not. One has to wonder if the lack of athleticism will hurt at the next level.
Potential fit on the Sixers
The Sixers always need help off their bench. That's where Jefferson comes in with his energy, physicality, and defensive versatility, which will go a long way in today's NBA. There are some rough edges to smooth out, but Jefferson is going to be a valuable player at the next level due to his basketball IQ and willingness to do whatever to win basketball games. The Sixers could use a guy like him for their bench unit to give a big boost whenever needed.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA draft profile: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Joshua Jefferson