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76ers' Jackson, Canaan fueled by friendly competition

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Potentially competing for a roster spot with the Philadelphia 76ers hasn't strained the friendship between Pierre Jackson and Isaiah Canaan. That kind of competition is what their entire friendship is based on, after all.

The two guards have been friends since attending a basketball camp together during their college careers in 2012, and three-plus years of friendship has them supporting and pushing each other now that they're in training camp together.

"That's what brothers do," Jackson said this week, noting that Canaan was a support for him through his recovery from a torn Achilles last season. "He's just a good dude. There's a lot of love for each other."

That's an injury Jackson is still working his way back from, and his slow progress may hurt his chances of cracking the roster. A scoring machine at the college and D-League level, enough so that there was a #FreePierreJackson movement when the New Orleans Pelicans owned his rights, Jackson has scored four points on 1-of-7 shooting in 23 exhibition minutes.

The 76ers signed-and-waived Jackson after his injury, essentially paying him for some loyalty he repaid this offseason with a team-friendly, four-year deal. That deal has a fully guaranteed 2015-16 salary, which would normally give Jackson an edge in any competition for a roster spot.

Canaan, too, has a guaranteed contract, but both are small guaranteed deals, and ones that the 76ers - well below the salary floor - can eat without hesitation if they don't want to carry more than three guards. Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall appear likely to make the team despite slow returns from injury, and head coach Brett Brown has indicated he only wants to keep three points.

The strange experience of being friends, teammates, and competitors doesn't seem to have worn on the relationship, even if others take notice of the rivalry.

"Today they were getting at each other," teammate JaKarr Sampson said. "I feel like it's a competitive friendship they have. We see off the court they're cool and hang out and everything. It's fun to watch."

There's a chance the two could remain teammates past Monday's deadline for roster cuts.

While undersized, Canaan is more of a natural shooting guard than point guard, and Brown anticipates playing him off the ball if he makes the team. Canaan's struggled shooting the ball in camp but has still managed to average 14 points and has flashed improved playmaking skills, averaging 4.5 assists.

"We're out there competing, but at the same time, we're teammates," Canaan said. "We're definitely build a relationship over the years. Now we're blessed with the opportunity to play with each other."

The final cut decision will also include T.J. McConnell and Scottie Wilbekin, with two of the four likely destined for the waiver wire. Tough though it may be initially, if either Jackson or Canaan make the team over the other, it seems their friendship will endure.

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