Kelly Oubre Jr. speaks for first time since knee injury

Philadelphia — Andre Drummond liked the fresh, red curls that sat atop Kelly Oubre Jr.'s head.

"I had to get them berries and juices in there," Oubre replied as Drummond walked by a flock of reporters in the locker room before Philadelphia hosted the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

It's been roughly two weeks since an MRI revealed that Oubre suffered a sprained LCL in his left knee during the Sixers' loss to the Detroit Pistons on November 14.

Oubre was re-evaluated and is progressing, the Sixers announced on Thursday. He will be re-evaluated next week.

They afforded Oubre the freedom to explain where things stand in his own words.

"Getting better each and every day. It's a slow process, of course," Oubre said.

"Just not playing with mother nature and just allowing my body to heal, take the time to do the things I need to do to make sure I strengthen the muscles."

 Every day presents a new challenge.

He's fighting off the depression of not being able to participate at work. Oubre's spirits were good enough to make a light joke referencing Coming to America when Drummond noticed his refreshed hair ahead of Thursday's victory over the Warriors.

Oubre hyper-extended his knee that night in Detroit. He revealed he had done the same thing in the season-opening win at the Boston Celtics.

"But that wasn't obviously as bad. So, yeah, just did the same thing again. Just this time I wasn't so lucky," Oubre explained.

He's taking this time on the sidelines as an opportunity to deepen his knowledge of the game he loves.

"You get to just study and be a student of the game because that's all you really got for yourself right now. Just watching, being a student of the game," said Oubre.

He finds value in being able to see the opponents. Being able to analyze his teammates' tendencies. Oubre is paying attention to what is working for the Sixers as a team.

"Kind of just take a step back and have the eagle eye on the game. I think that's very beneficial. But you got to want to learn, you got to want to stay involved and engaged and that helps us. Been helping me just be a better student and learn this team."

Oubre was blunt about the mental strain of having to sit and watch his comrades compete without him — "It sucks".

"Listen man, I'm trying to stay above water. Keep my head above it," Oubre explained.

Part of him feels the challenge of not being physically able to fulfill his purpose at the moment. But it's a challenge he's up for.

"I think the reward at the other side will be great just because I'm just trying to take it day by day. I'm not trying to get too high or too low."

Oubre wants, more than anything, to be out there with his teammates, to help them develop, to help the Sixers win. It weighs on him that he can't do that in street clothes.

"So I'm just taking it day by day and trying to do everything I possibly can to get back," he said.

Within his control is doing what the experts tell him to do. Listening to the trainers and the doctors. He's careful not to push the boundaries of what he's physically able to do at this stage of his recovery.

"I just been in the weight room, upper body, things like that. Conditioning, still can do upper-body stuff that gets my heart rate up," Oubre told reporters.

"I've just been leaning on these guys in here to tell me what to do, what I can't do and just listen to their words and take this process as serious as I possibly can."

The goal when he gets back? The reward at the other side?

He wants to build on some of the improvements he'd made to open the season.

"Just play slower, for me. I know I play 100 miles per hour and, obviously, like I said, 'Rese and I worked a lot this summer on slowing down, letting the game come to us," Oubre said.

It doesn't stop there. Oubre wants to maintain his efficiency as a decision-maker.

"Just continuously reading and take what you want, not what the defense gives you."

That's the bare minimum in his eyes. Ideally, he'd return as an improved defender, too.

"Just be a great two-way player and a great addition to this team," Oubre added.