Thursday, October 1, 2026
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The Philadelphia 76ers are preparing for the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft and have major needs in a number of areas on the roster. One player frequently connected to the Sixers with the No. 22 pick is Houston big man Chris Cenac Jr., one of the draft's most polarizing players. But what makes him a potential fit for Philly, and is he worth the gamble?
At Houston, Cenac displayed impressive mobility for his size. At last month's combine, he measured just over 6 feet 10.25 inches without shoes, with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and a standing reach exceeding 9 feet.
With the Cougars, he proved himself as a transition talent, capable of pushing the pace, working the ball ahead in transition, and finishing above the rim at a high level. Cenac recorded a 37-inch vertical leap at the combine and showcased his dynamic finishing ability, strong instincts as a cutter, and flashes of a face-up game. Passing in the half-court isn’t a high-end skill for him, but he displayed an ability to pass out of the post and a knack for finding teammates cutting to the rim. He won’t be an elite passer, but there’s NBA-level passing potential.
Cenac’s best trait is arguably his rebounding ability. He’s a talented offensive rebounder, but it’s his work as a defensive rebounder where he really thrives. Cenac posted a 26.1% defensive rebounding percentage last year, ranking second among qualified freshmen, above both Cameron Boozer and Hannes Steinbach.
There are some important areas where Cenac has proven more potential than production so far. He will need to add strength, as he often found himself pushed around on both ends when operating in the post. His primary swing skills are his jump shot and defensive ability.
As a shooter, his form is a mixed bag, but an overall encouraging start for a player who is clearly coming into the league as a bit of a project. Teams will likely focus on developing his three-point shot further, but for now, Cenac’s feel in the midrange is arguably underrated. While he’s not an elite midrange presence, he’s shown a good feel for working his way to the nail for an open shot off the catch. At the very least, this should buy him time while he works on his three-point shot.
As a defender, Cenac’s mobility adds value to his ability to defend the pick and roll, as he’s able to blitz ball handlers and still recover and work back to his assignment. Adding strength will play a factor in his overall defensive ability, but more important is learning how to defend as a modern big man. He’s not ready to be a switch-defender, but he’s working toward that end.
Cenac is self-aware of at least some of his deficiencies, which led him to transition from a center in high school to a power forward at Houston. During the recruitment process, Cenac reportedly asked Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson about playing power forward, aware that big men are asked to defend on the perimeter now more than ever.
Sampson’s agreement came as somewhat of a surprise, as he’s not known to be an experimental coach. Sampson runs a tight ship. His teams are widely known for setting a tone of physicality and defensive intensity, and he preaches and demands a relentless work ethic out of his players. In many ways, he has drawn comparisons to Sixers coach Nick Nurse.
Throughout the season, Sampson was a consistent, vocal supporter of Cenac, particularly praising his work ethic.
“Let me tell you something about Chris Cenac. I love that kid. I love him,” Sampson said during the season. “He’s never had a bad day, and I have worn him out. He’s never ever not looked me in the eye. He’s never had one ounce of bad body language. He’s never ever been late. He’s always one of the first ones there, last ones to leave. He’s like a huge sponge. Wherever he’s playing in the NBA down the road, that team is going to be lucky to get him.”
As a player who prioritizes attitude and effort above all else, Cenac is culturally a fit for what the Sixers want to build. While it would be nice to see a marquee defensive skill from Cenac, his versatility provides its own value. Still, adding strength and continuing to work on switchability are musts if he’s to find success in the NBA. Whether or not he ultimately does is up to Cenac to put in the work, and the Sixers to afford him the opportunity.
Cenac is a developmental draft pick, not a finished product. While he could likely contribute in some sorely needed areas for Philadelphia, an ideal situation would see Cenac in a patient environment that affords him the space to learn and grow.
The positional need of a player capable of playing both big man positions is evident, as is the Sixers’ need for size, rebounding and rim running. On those fronts, Cenac makes plenty of sense, even if he’s not a finished product entering the league. If new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey and the rest of the Sixers’ front office decide on Cenac, it will be because they view him as a player worth investing in.
There’s a narrative among some in the fanbase that the Sixers do not develop talent, so taking on a player who is more project than production is a concern in those minds. Those concerns are slightly overstated, as the team has developed Tyrese Maxey and is continuing to develop Justin Edwards, Adem Bona and VJ Edgecombe, but the controversial exits of Jared McCain and Isaiah Joe, among others, linger heavily on the minds of fans.
However, this is not the same organization as it was even last season. With an overhauled front office, it would be a step too far to suggest a complete pivot in approach, but there will certainly be noticeable differences in how this front office operates compared to under Daryl Morey. While it’s too early to predict the habits of the new front office, one aspect that has to change is the consistent development of homegrown talent, and the team is arguably in a more obvious position to do so than they have been in some time.
While the Sixers aim to remain competitive, they have noticeably committed to building a contender around their young backcourt. The team's desire to remain competitive has not changed, and their previous focus on maximizing Joel Embiid's championship window continues to be a factor as they still have a major financial commitment to the former MVP over the next three years, but the team's priority is to build around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
This shift in philosophy opens the door to draft a player like Cenac, who will have the opportunity for minutes right away, but also will be allotted the time to develop. Head coach Nick Nurse has been criticized for a perceived preference for experience over developmental players, but he had no reservations in giving Edgecombe a starting role before he had played an NBA game and he has shown some trust in Justin Edwards. Both of these players are also young and raw, but hardworking and coachable, as is the consensus on Chris Cenac.
While Cenac offers significant long-term upside, the Sixers still face the pressure of maintaining a competitive team. While the focus has increasingly shifted toward Maxey and Edgecombe, the organization's desire to win has not changed.
If the Sixers draft Cenac, they've either deemed that he can contribute sooner than others expect or that his long-term potential is worth the gamble that naturally comes with a developmental prospect.
Chris Cenac is a difficult player to compare, and that’s largely due to the difference between his floor and ceiling. On the low end of the spectrum, there are shades of a Jalen Smith, or perhaps a bigger Noah Clowney. On the other end, there’s a player who resembles something of Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr.
Cenac’s size, motor, and finishing skills suggest he has a solid chance at a long career in the league, but his development will decide whether he becomes a starting-caliber player or if he’s destined to be little more than a role player off the bench.
His rebounding ability should easily translate, but he will be challenged by the increased size and physicality of the NBA. A reliable three-point shot would turn him into a capable role player, but to reach the level of a player like Jabari Smith, or potentially even beyond, Cenac will have to become a strong switch defender, which is possible, but will take time.
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