Former Auburn All-American signs his first NBA contract

Former Auburn standout Johni Broome has signed his first NBA contract, the Philadelphia 76ers announced on Tuesday.

Broome joined the Sixers as the 35th pick in the 79th annual NBA Draft on Thursday night.

Philadelphia did not disclose the terms of Broome’s contract, but the sports financial website spotrac.com reported the rookie signed a four-year, $8.685 million contract. The first two seasons of the contract, worth $3.424 million, are fully guaranteed. The fourth year of the contract, which would be for the 2028-29 season, is a team option.

During the 2024-25 season, Broome’s accolades included consensus first-team All-American, the SEC Player of the Year Award, the SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player Award, The Sporting News National Player of the Year Award, the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award and the Pete Newell Big Man of the Year Award.

In his final season at Auburn, the 6-foot-10 center/power forward averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 blocked shots in 36 games. He led the SEC in rebounds and blocked shots. His 389 rebounds set a school single-season record, and Broome left the Tigers ranked second in rebounds, third in blocked shots and eighth in points in Auburn history.

With Guerschon Yabusele leaving Philadelphia for the New York Knicks and Trendon Watford joining the 76ers from the Brooklyn Nets in free agency, Broome, Watford, Justin Edwards and Kelly Oubre Jr. become the power-forward possibilities in a Philadelphia frontcourt that will feature center Joel Embiid and small forward Paul George.

Last season, the 6-foot-8 Oubre averaged 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 60 games, with 57 starts, and the 6-foot-6 Edwards averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals in 44 games, with 26 starts, for the 76ers. A former Mountain Brook High School star, the 6-foot-9 Watford averaged 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 44 games for the Nets in the 2024-25 campaign.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

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