Another Night to Forget: Former 76ers Wing Struggles Again—Even the Rockets’ G League Squad Can’t Spark a Turnaround

In a recent NBA G League matchup, the Stockton Kings—Sacramento’s affiliate—took care of business at home, defeating the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Houston Rockets’ affiliate, 128–115. With the win, Stockton improved to 4–3 on the season, while Rio Grande Valley slipped to 3–3.

One of the biggest storylines from the Vipers’ side was another rough outing from reserve wing Ricky Council IV. In 23 minutes of action, Council shot just 2-for-9 from the field, went 1-for-5 from three, and finished with 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists, along with 2 fouls and a -10 plus/minus.

Offensively, Council once again struggled to find rhythm. His efficiency remained low, his shot selection continued to raise questions, and he wasn’t able to consistently turn athleticism into reliable scoring. Beyond that, his impact in other areas was limited—his playmaking didn’t provide much lift, and his defensive presence also fell short. Overall, it was a performance that offered little upside, and his difficulties were a notable factor in the Vipers falling short.

Council, born in August 2001, is 24 years old and listed at 198 cm and 94 kg. He went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. Last season, he appeared in 73 games for the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 17.1 minutes per game and putting up 7.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks. He also averaged 0.7 turnovers and 0.9 fouls, while shooting 38.2% from the field, 25.8% from three, and 80.4% from the free-throw line.

This summer, Council was waived by the 76ers. He later signed a training camp deal with the Rockets before being released again prior to the regular season. The Vipers subsequently acquired his G League rights via trade, and he has been playing for Rio Grande Valley in recent weeks.

So far this G League season, Council has played 8 games, averaging 26.5 minutes, 12.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.0 steal per contest. He’s shooting 40.5% overall, 36.4% from three, and 66.7% at the line.

Even with those season averages, Council’s overall performance has been somewhat underwhelming compared to expectations. He previously built a reputation in the G League as a high-end scorer—an aggressive, downhill attacker with strong finishing ability. This year, however, his form has been inconsistent, and games like this one have started to spark concern.

Not long ago, he was a rotation piece in the NBA with Philadelphia. Now, he’s experiencing stretches where he looks surprisingly uncomfortable even at the G League level. The big question is why his rhythm and confidence appear to have dipped so sharply—and whether he can stabilize his game before this season starts slipping away.