LAS VEGAS –– Since the first time Nik Stauskas picked up a basketball, he knew he wanted to one day turn pro. As a kid growing up just outside of Toronto, Canada, he spent countless hours shooting baskets in the backyard of his parents’ suburban home, braving the cold and sometimes even the snow to work on his game.

But unlike most of his friends, whose obsession with the sport was sparked largely by the establishment of the Raptors in 1995 and the presence of a prime Vince Carter in the early 2000s, Stauskas was a student of the game even at an early age. He patterned his style of play after many of the league’s top guards, but one in particular held a special place in his heart.

“I was a huge [Allen Iverson] fan growing up,” Stauskas remembers. “One year, for Halloween I was Allen Iverson. I had the jersey, I had the headband on, I had the Philadelphia 76ers warmups jacket over top the tear-away pants, and I had the [Reebok] Questions on… It’s kind of cool now that I’m playing for the same organization.”

Stauskas was one of three players acquired by the Sixers in a trade with the Sacramento Kings on Friday, and beyond his affinity for Iverson, the 21-year-old is excited for the opportunity Philadelphia can provide for him in terms of playing time and development.

“I think this is going to be a great opportunity for me,” he said. “All I can really do at this point is control how hard I work, and that’s what I plan to do this year is just come in and work hard and hope that pays off… I really do love this game, ever since I was a kid, and I knew from day that this is what I wanted to do with my life.”

In 50 games with Sacramento before February’s All-Star Break, the 6’6” sharpshooter averaged just 3.4 points per game and shot 26.1% from beyond the arc. But after the break, Stauskas found a better rhythm, averaging 6.6 points in 19.4 minutes per game and shooting 42.1% from beyond the arc; his effective field goal percentage jumped from 39.7% to 51.6% during that stretch.

The Michigan alum benefitted greatly last season from the open looks created when teams doubled All-Star teammate DeMarcus Cousins in the post. With Cousins on the floor, Stauskas shot 5.7% better from beyond the arc than he did when Cousins was on the bench. After the break, he shot a scorching 47.1% from deep when playing with Cousins versus 40.0% in 130 minutes playing without him.

In Philadelphia, Stauskas hopes the presence of young big men Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and Joel Embiid will pay similar dividends.

“[Last year] was really the first time in my life that I played with a dominant low-post player,” he said. “It prepared me a lot for this year, obviously having Jahlil, Nerlens, and Joel. All three of them are really good post players and command a lot of attention as well. So if double or triple teams come, I just have to be ready on the perimeter to spot up and knock down shots.”

The sophomore guard won’t play in Saturday’s Las Vegas Summer League opener against the Lakers, but it is still possible he suits up later in the 10-day tournament. Stay tuned for updates.