In the 2024-25 season, the Philadelphia 76ers will rely on their experienced roster to move closer to the Larry O’Brien Trophy. After all, the team is now assembled with a good mix of proven and talented players determined to help the franchise end a 41-year title drought.

Philly has the oldest roster in the league with an average age of 29, so it’s highly unlikely that the team will produce another breakout player after last season’s Tyrese Maxey. However, the club still has some potential hidden aces up its sleeve, starting with a lesser-known winger who can definitely surprise a lot of people this year.

Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report has listed each team’s best-kept secrets for the upcoming season and named Ricky Council IV as Philadelphia’s trump card for next season.

The 23-year-old’s two-way contract was converted to a standard deal last April and he performed well during the late stages of the season when the 76ers were plagued by injuries. He was immediately at his best and became a key factor in a number of victories that effectively helped the team avoid the play-in tournament.

Despite a larger rotation this time around, Council will almost certainly see playing time if his Summer League breakthrough continues and gives him the momentum he needs to secure consistent playing time.

At best, he can replace Eric Gordon and the other older guards on the roster and even be a starting guard given his skill set. Philly needs players who are willing to do the dirty work and make a big impact on the court even without the ball in their hands, and those qualities are ingrained in his game.

It’s pretty unfair to benchmark Ricky Council IV for the most improved player given how uncertain his place in the rotation is to begin with, but if he does improve in leaps and bounds, the Philadelphia 76ers should be incredibly happy to give the undrafted kid a chance to make the big jump.