 Covington with thePhiladelphia 76ers in 2018 | |
| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward /power forward |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1990-12-14)December 14, 1990 (age 34) Bellwood, Illinois, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 209 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Proviso West (Hillside, Illinois) |
| College | Tennessee State (2009–2013) |
| NBA draft | 2013:undrafted |
| Playing career | 2013–present |
| Career history | |
| 2013–2014 | Houston Rockets |
| 2013–2014 | →Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2014–2018 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2018–2020 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2020 | Houston Rockets |
| 2020–2022 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 2022–2023 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2023–2024 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Robert Covington (born December 14, 1990) is an American professionalbasketball player who last played for thePhiladelphia 76ers of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He playedcollege basketball for theTennessee State Tigers[1] and in 2018, he was named to theNBA All-Defensive First Team.
Covington attendedProviso West High School inHillside, Illinois. As a senior in 2008–09, he averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks per game as he was named the West Suburban Conference Player of the Year after leading Proviso West to the West Suburban Championship. He was also an All-Area and All-Conference first-team honoree.[2]
In his freshman season atTennessee State, Covington was named to theOhio Valley Conference All-Newcomer team and earned Mid-Major Freshman All-America honors fromCollegeinsider.com. In 32 games (28 starts), he averaged 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game.[2][3]
In his sophomore season, Covington recorded eight double-doubles and was named OVC Player of the Week on December 27, 2010. He led the team in rebounds (7.5 rpg), field goal percentage (.500) and three-point field goal percentage (.460). He also led the OVC with his 46% three-point shooting as he earned second-team All-OVC and second-team NABC Division I All-District 19 honors. In 30 games (all starts), he averaged 13.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game.[2][3]
In his junior season, Covington earned first-team All-OVC and first-team NABC Division I All-District 19 honors, and was named the 2011–12CollegeInsider.com OVC co-MVP. He also earned OVC All-Tournament team and Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament team honors. At the season's end, he had 1,358 points and 693 rebounds, ranking for 16th and 13th in school history respectively. In 33 games (32 starts), he averaged 17.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks in 31.2 minutes per game.[2][3]
In his senior season, Covington earned second-team All-OVC and second-team NABC Division I All-District 19 honors for the second time in his career despite missing ten games due to injury. In 23 games (22 starts), he averaged 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks in 31.0 minutes per game. He finished his career ranked seventh on Tennessee State's all-time list in both scoring and rebounding, with 1,749 points and 876 rebounds.[2][3]
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After going undrafted in the2013 NBA draft, Covington joined theHouston Rockets for the2013 NBA Summer League. On July 15, 2013, he signed a multi-year deal with the Rockets.[4] He spent the majority of the 2013–14 season in theNBA Development League with the Rockets' affiliate team, theRio Grande Valley Vipers, appearing in just seven NBA games.[5] He participated in the 2014 NBA D-League All-Star Game in February,[6] where scored an NBA D-League All-Star record 33 points, 22 of which came in the game's final six minutes, en route to earning MVP honors in the game. He connected on 12 of his 23 shots, including four-of-eight three-pointers at NBA All-Star festivities in New Orleans.[7] In April, he was named the NBA D-League Rookie of the Year.[7] He played in 42 of the Vipers 50 regular season games, 41 as a starter. He averaged a team-high 23.2 points, good for second best in the NBA D-League, while shooting 44 percent from the field. He also averaged 9.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game.[7]
After spendingSummer League, training camp and preseason with the Rockets, Covington was waived on October 27, 2014.[8]
Covington was selected 3rd overall by the Grand Rapids Drive in the 2015 D-League Draft, however he never played for the team.
On November 15, 2014, Covington signed a reported five-year contract with thePhiladelphia 76ers.[9][10] He made his debut for the 76ers two days later, recording six points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in16+1⁄2 minutes off the bench in a 100–75 loss to theSan Antonio Spurs.[11] On December 3, he scored a career-best 17 points in an 85–77 win over theMinnesota Timberwolves. Two nights later against theOklahoma City Thunder, he set a new career high.[12] In 28 minutes, he scored 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. A day later, he did it again, dropping 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting in 29 minutes off the bench in a 108–101 overtime victory over theDetroit Pistons.[13] On March 25, he had a second 25-point effort against theDenver Nuggets.[12] On April 8, Covington scored a career-high 27 points on 8-for-11 shooting in a 119–90 loss to theWashington Wizards.[14] Five days later, he had a third 25-point effort against theMilwaukee Bucks.[12]
After battling injury early in the 2015–16 season, Covington quickly began to excel, leading the NBA with 3.6 steals per game come December.[15] In the final three games of November, Covington secured six-plus steals in each contest, making him the first NBA player to accomplish the feat in three-consecutive games sinceAlvin Robertson in 1986.[15] On November 27, he recorded career highs of 28 points and eight steals in a 116–114 loss to theHouston Rockets.[16] On December 1, he scored a game-high 23 points to help the 76ers defeat theLos Angeles Lakers 103–91 and end a 28-game losing streak that began on March 27, 2015, during the 2014–15 season.[17] On February 10, he scored a career-high 29 points and hit a career-high seven three-pointers in a loss to theSacramento Kings.[18] He set a new career high for scoring on April 8 with 30 points against theNew York Knicks.[19] On April 12, in a loss to theToronto Raptors, Covington had his seventh game of the season with six or more three-pointers, joiningStephen Curry,Klay Thompson andJ. R. Smith as the only players to do so in 2015–16.[20] In the team's season finale the following day, Covington scored 27 points and again hit six three-pointers in a 115–105 loss to theChicago Bulls.[21]
On December 14, 2016, Covington had season highs of 26 points and 12 rebounds in a 123–114 loss to the Raptors.[22] On January 20, 2017, he scored 22 points and made two three-pointers in the final 40 seconds to lead the 76ers to a come-from-behind 93–92 win over thePortland Trail Blazers.[23] On January 29, 2017, he scored 21 points and tied his season high of 12 rebounds in a 121–108 loss to the Bulls.[24] In March 2017, he had 13 rebounds on three occasions.[25] On March 31, he was ruled out for the rest of the season with right knee soreness and swelling.[26]
In the 76ers' season opener on October 18, 2017, Covington scored 29 points in a 120–115 loss to the Wizards.[27] On November 13, he scored a season-high 31 points against theLos Angeles Clippers.[28] On November 17, after restructuring the terms of his contract for the 2017–18 season,[29] he signed a four-year, $62 million contract extension with the 76ers.[30] In May 2018, he was named to theNBA All-Defensive First Team.[31]
Covington started the first 13 games for the 76ers to begin the2018–19 season.[32]
On November 12, 2018, Covington was traded to theMinnesota Timberwolves, along withJerryd Bayless,Dario Šarić and a 2022 second-round pick, in exchange forJimmy Butler andJustin Patton.[33] He made his debut for the Timberwolves two days later, recording 13 points and seven rebounds in a 107–100 win over theNew Orleans Pelicans.[34] On December 31, late in the Timberwolves' loss to theNew Orleans Pelicans, Covington sustained a bone bruise on his right knee.[35] After missing 23 games,[36] he was assigned to theIowa Wolves of theNBA G League on February 27.[37] On March 21, after suffering a setback in his quest for a return, Covington was ruled out for the rest of the season.[38] He underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on April 1.[39]
On February 5, 2020, Covington returned to the Rockets in a four-team, 12-player trade withJordan Bell from the Timberwolves; Minnesota receivedJarred Vanderbilt,Malik Beasley,Juan Hernangómez,Evan Turner, and a 2020 first-round draft pick.[40] The following day, Covington made his debut in a 121–111 win over theLos Angeles Lakers, scoring 14 points along with eight rebounds in 30 minutes.[41] On February 29, in a 111–110 overtime win over theBoston Celtics, Covington had 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 blocks.[42]
On November 22, 2020, Covington was traded to thePortland Trail Blazers in exchange forTrevor Ariza, the draft rights toIsaiah Stewart and a conditional future first-round pick.[43]
On February 4, 2022, Covington was traded, alongsideNorman Powell, to theLos Angeles Clippers in exchange forEric Bledsoe,Keon Johnson,Justise Winslow, and a 2025 second-round pick.[44][45][46] On April 1, Covington logged a career-high 43 points, along with eight rebounds and three blocks, in a 153–119 blowout win over theMilwaukee Bucks. He also made 11 three-pointers during the game, setting a Clippers franchise record for most three-pointers made in a game.[47][48] On May 8, Covington signed a two-year, $24 million extension with the Clippers.[49][50]
On November 1, 2023, thePhiladelphia 76ers acquired Covington,Marcus Morris Sr.,Kenyon Martin Jr. andNicolas Batum from the Clippers in exchange forJames Harden,P. J. Tucker, andFilip Petrušev. As part of the trade, the Clippers dealt a first-round pick, two second-round picks, a pick swap, and cash considerations to the 76ers, while sending a pick swap and cash considerations to theOklahoma City Thunder.[51]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Houston | 7 | 0 | 4.8 | .429 | .364 | — | .7 | .0 | .3 | .0 | 2.3 |
| 2014–15 | Philadelphia | 70 | 49 | 27.9 | .396 | .374 | .820 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | .4 | 13.5 |
| 2015–16 | Philadelphia | 67 | 49 | 28.4 | .385 | .353 | .791 | 6.3 | 1.4 | 1.6 | .6 | 12.8 |
| 2016–17 | Philadelphia | 67 | 67 | 31.6 | .399 | .333 | .822 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 12.9 |
| 2017–18 | Philadelphia | 80 | 80 | 31.6 | .413 | .369 | .853 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 1.7 | .9 | 12.6 |
| 2018–19 | Philadelphia | 13 | 13 | 33.8 | .427 | .390 | .739 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 11.3 |
| Minnesota | 22 | 22 | 34.7 | .433 | .372 | .773 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 14.5 | |
| 2019–20 | Minnesota | 48 | 47 | 29.4 | .435 | .346 | .798 | 6.0 | 1.2 | 1.7 | .9 | 12.8 |
| Houston | 22 | 21 | 33.0 | .392 | .315 | .800 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 11.6 | |
| 2020–21 | Portland | 70 | 70 | 32.0 | .401 | .379 | .806 | 6.7 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 8.5 |
| 2021–22 | Portland | 48 | 40 | 29.8 | .381 | .343 | .833 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 7.6 |
| L.A. Clippers | 23 | 2 | 22.1 | .500 | .450 | .848 | 5.1 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 10.4 | |
| 2022–23 | L.A. Clippers | 48 | 0 | 16.2 | .445 | .397 | .750 | 3.5 | 1.2 | .8 | .7 | 6.0 |
| 2023–24 | L.A. Clippers | 3 | 3 | 23.1 | .333 | .250 | .500 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| Philadelphia | 26 | 3 | 16.1 | .449 | .354 | .875 | 3.4 | .7 | 1.3 | .6 | 4.5 | |
| Career | 614 | 466 | 28.2 | .409 | .362 | .811 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 1.5 | .9 | 10.8 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | L.A. Clippers | 2 | 0 | 26.6 | .462 | .429 | .889 | 4.0 | .5 | .5 | .0 | 11.5 |
| Career | 2 | 0 | 26.6 | .462 | .429 | .889 | 4.0 | .5 | .5 | .0 | 11.5 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Philadelphia | 10 | 8 | 28.1 | .325 | .313 | .750 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 1.1 | .9 | 8.1 |
| 2020 | Houston | 12 | 12 | 31.6 | .495 | .500 | .857 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 11.2 |
| 2021 | Portland | 6 | 6 | 38.0 | .500 | .500 | .900 | 7.8 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 9.3 |
| 2023 | L.A. Clippers | 2 | 0 | 6.0 | .000 | .000 | – | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .5 | .0 |
| Career | 30 | 26 | 30.0 | .424 | .429 | .818 | 5.4 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 9.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | Tennessee State | 32 | 28 | 27.3 | .428 | .385 | .797 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 11.5 |
| 2010–11 | Tennessee State | 30 | 30 | 30.8 | .498 | .460 | .782 | 7.5 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 13.3 |
| 2011–12 | Tennessee State | 33 | 32 | 31.2 | .526 | .448 | .775 | 7.9 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 17.8 |
| 2012–13 | Tennessee State | 23 | 21 | 31.0 | .435 | .388 | .850 | 8.0 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 17.0 |
| Career | 118 | 111 | 30.0 | .476 | .422 | .802 | 7.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 14.8 | |
Covington is the son of Dennis and Teresa Bryant.[2][52] Covington was in a relationship withGerman model and influencer Amirah Dyme, and on 8 March 2022, she gave birth to their first child together, a daughter named Harmony Faye.[53] In 2025 he became a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
NBA Awards:
NBA G League Awards:
He has missed 23 consecutive games since suffering the injury on Dec. 31.
