Philadelphia 76ers: As Team Grows, so Does Evan Turner

In Outliers, author Malcolm Gladwell writes that to reach an elite level, one needs to spend 10,000 hours developing their skills.

Unless he's been practicing three hours a day—every day—rookie Evan Turner hasn't quite put that many hours into practicing his craft.

But just give him time.

The 22-year-old swingman has endured his fair share of growing pains during his rookie season with the 76ers. But those struggles haven't had any negative effect on his work ethic, despite the myriad of highs and lows he's experienced this year.

Make no mistake—Evan Turner is committed to putting in the work needed to excel at the pro level. If his confidence is any indication of the effort he plans to put forth, he's going to be just fine.

"I think I will be a great player," said Turner in an interview with Philadelphia's Comcast SportsNet earlier this month. "There is no doubt in my mind I will get to that level."

Although his numbers this season have been solid (with averages of 7.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game), his transition to the NBA hasn't gone as smoothly as many people had expected.

More importantly, it hasn't gone as smoothly as he expected.

Turner had an exceptionally bad stretch of action in December, resulting in two games where 76ers coach Doug Collins never even called his number. In a testament to his desire to become great, those two DNP-CDs (Did Not Play—Coach's Decision) only motivated him even more.

It should be noted that Evan Turner is no stranger to adversity.

Diagnosed with a speech impediment as a child, Turner often found solace on the basketball court—honing his skills alone in one of the few places where he could escape the teasing of others.

Those countless hours of solitude and hard work eventually paid off—Turner garnered numerous accolades during his career at Ohio State, culminating in his selection with the No. 2 overall pick in this past June's NBA draft. 

As the National Player of the Year last season with the Buckeyes, Turner had a knack for getting to the basket virtually at will. But in many ways, that gift was also a curse of sorts.

Because he was so effective at attacking the rim, he never had to develop a consistent jump shot. Realizing that particular aspect of his game needs work, Turner enlisted the help of Herb Magee, head coach of Philadelphia University and legendary shooting guru.

In the past, Magee—who is also known as the "Shot Doctor"—has practiced his unique brand of medicine on a number of current and former NBA players, including Malik Rose and Jameer Nelson. He plans to meet with Turner in the offseason to help the 76ers swingman add another weapon to his already impressive bag of tricks.

"I know that I have a little hitch in my shot, but it's something that can be corrected, and I'm going to learn from one of the best," Turner told the Philadelphia Daily News in February. "Anything I can do to help my game, I'm for it."

Those aren't empty words.

During All-Star Weekend, Turner wasn't in Los Angeles enjoying the pomp and pageantry that accompanies the NBA's signature event. Instead, he was 2,000 miles away, shooting jumpers in his old high school gym in Westchester, IL.

On St. Patrick's Day, in the midst of a stretch where the 76ers played eight games in 12 days, Turner chose to spend his off day with a few teammates and coaches. 

This wasn't your typical social gathering, however. The group was once again out on the basketball court, honing their respective games for the team's stretch run.

In the coming weeks, Turner will be asked to play a pivotal role in Collins' rotation as the 76ers make their final push towards the playoffs. At 6'7", with an excellent handle and a high basketball IQ, the versatile Turner presents matchup problems for both point guards and small forwards alike.

Turner's game is often compared to that of Portland Trailblazers shooting guard Brandon Roy. Neither is overly athletic, but both are crafty enough to keep their defenders off-balance with a dazzling array of moves.

Roy—prior to his recent series of knee injuries—was on the cusp of being one of the elite shooting guards in the NBA. Given his skill set and determination, there's no reason that Turner couldn't one day reach that level as well.

One thing is for certain: it won't be for lack of trying. 

Turner wasn't selected to participate in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam during All-Star Weekend this season, but don't be surprised if he receives an invite next year. If he doesn't, he'll probably spend that time in a gym somewhere, working on his game.

After all, they say that practice makes perfect.