Who is Jeff Dowtin Jr? All About 76ers’ 27YO Summer League Pick Who Gets Another Lifeline After 5 Waivers from 4 Teams

After making his entry into the NBA via Orlando Magic in 2021, point guard Jeff Dowtin Jr has faced trouble in staying put. Within three years, the athlete was taken in and waived by four different franchises, barely getting the chance to represent them either in the regular season or even in the G League! A recent positive report will be taking Dowtin Jr back to his old team, however, things will hopefully turn out differently this time around.

Earlier today, Shams Charania broke the news that the Philadelphia 76ers are looking to bring back Jeff Dowtin Jr under a 2-way deal. The player had earlier signed a two-way contract with the franchise back in March 2024 and then a standard contract in April. However, a possible exit seemed imminent after they refused to provide him with his $2.2 million player option ahead of free agency.

With this decision, the player looks to return. Therefore, without any further delay, let us look into who the 27-year-old point guard is.

Who is Jeff Dowtin Jr?

Jeff Dowtin Jr. was born on the 10 of May, 1997. His run with basketball started right from high school itself, as he represented the team at St John’s College High School in Washington D.C. A 2016 report by ESPN ranked the point guard as the 43 best in the nation, thanks to his average stat-line of 15.3 points and 5.0 assists during the senior year.

His performance saw a drop once he started playing college basketball for the University of Rhode Island. He was down to averaging 11 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. However, his improved performance in his senior year saw him garnering a higher rate of success, clinching a spot to the Atlantic 10 Third Team All-Conference honors, the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference Team for the 3 consecutive year, and being ranked #15 in the country!

Jeff Dowtin Jr’s record may have been impressive, but it wasn’t good enough for him to be selected after declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft. He was welcomed by the Orlando Magic under an Exhibit 10 Deal, however, he ended up being waived the very same day.

He later signed on with the Lakeland Magic of the G League and found success before ending up at the Warriors, after winning the Championship! After getting waived from there too, a 10-day contract allowed the player to make one appearance for the Bucks. Jeff then re-joined Lakeland Magic, after which he was removed and reacquired again before ending up on the Orlando side for another 10-day deal.

A few months later, the Raptors came knocking, and he joined them for the 2022 Summer League. Even though he signed a standard contract after one year in Toronto, he got waived, again. Since November 2023, he’s been at Delaware Blue Coats, which is affiliated with the Sixers. The NBA counterpart then let him go and refused to hand him his player option after he signed a standard deal.

However, that was no indicator of a permanent goodbye, as it was a mere budgetary move for the Philly side. Well, he seems to have earned the front office’s trust and is now back on a two-way deal again.

Jeff Dowtin Jr’s Career Stats

During his three-year, abrupt stint in the NBA, Jeff Dowtin Jr has played a total of 46 regular season games. While he only appeared in 1 game for the Milwaukee Bucks, his most appearances (25) came during his stint in Toronto. Overall, in his career, the player has averaged just under 3 points along with 1.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

In the 12 games that Dowtin Jr has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, he’s scored over 4 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. The player has done well on the shooting front, clocking 55.6% from the field, 47.4% from deep range, and lastly 75% with his free throws.

While the NBA regular season has not been too favorable for him, the 27-year-old has found more success in the Summer League. Dowtin Jr secured an average score of 17 points and 5.3 assists in the games with Salt Lake City, and 17.3 points and 6.0 assists in his Las Vegas stint.

His performance against the Detroit Pistons, a week ago, was especially lauded. After the 76ers secured the 75-74 lead with just 4:31 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Jeff Dowtin Jr kept contributing to the scoreline, giving out his best until the 76ers won by 94-81.