KANSAS CITY, Mo. - There's a very real likelihood that Jacob Pullen's opportunity with the 76ers is over.
That's the harsh reality of trying to make it in the NBA.
But if there's anybody who understands the harsh realities of life, it's the undersized journeyman from Kansas State, who parlayed his prodigious college scoring and prolific outside shooting into a lucrative and successful career overseas - only to feel the pull to give the NBA one more shot.
That is how Pullen found himself back in Sixers camp, five years after playing for them in the summer league, trying to force his way onto a roster packed with lottery picks.
"It's just a great feeling, a dream come true," Pullen said, sitting in front of a locker room inside the Sprint Center in Kansas City, where he once led the Wildcats against Kansas in the Big 12 title game.
"I just looked at this as a great opportunity," he said. "They got a lot of great guys, a lot of great younger guys. I just felt like I had a chance to come in and help them. We'll just see what happens when it comes down to the chopping block."
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Even if he's chopped, Sixers coach Brett Brown acknowledged the impact Pullen has made in camp.
"When you study his background internationally, and listen to him, he's an adult. And he has a grit about him that's very endearing, you know?" Brown said. "He loves basketball, he's tough, he's had an experience that I think is very impressive. And like a lot of young guys we've had, he's just trying to find a chance, to get an opportunity."
The Sixers have plenty of backcourt weapons, though. They drafted Markelle Fultz first overall, signed arguably the league's best three-point shooter in JJ Reddick, and are loaded with versatile perimeter players such as T.J. McConnell, James Blackmon Jr. and Jerryd Bayless.
Still, the soft-spoken Pullen has managed to at the very least raise eyebrows.
"He's been an A-plus teammate, A-plus worker, no back down," Brown said. "I think all those things have made him a really professional addition to our roster."
Most of those traits Pullen picked up playing overseas.
After going undrafted in 2011, he played a season in Italy, bounced through the Israeli league and back to Italy, then starred for FC Barcelona in Spain. He had a stint with the Flying Leopards in China, returned to Spain and Italy, played for a club in Croatia and spent last year with a Russian team based northwest of Moscow. Pullen even picked up Georgian citizenship along the way, allowing him to play for the country in European tournaments.
"It's been a great journey," he said. "I saw a lot of culture, I grew up a lot. I spent a lot of time over there, embraced it, learned a lot of different languages. Now I just want to stay home, enjoy the States for a while."
A big reason for that is his soon-to-be 3-year-old daughter, who lives with her mom in Chicago. Pullen has made enough money overseas that he's able to fly her out to see him on the road, but living overseas would make those kinds of trips impossible.
That money stashed away is also why Pullen said he's open to signing a two-way contract or playing in the development league. He doesn't necessarily need an NBA paycheck to get by, at least for now, and he'd be willing to pay for pennies on the dollar if it means an opportunity to fulfill his dream.
"I had other teams that were interested," Pullen said before he recorded three points and two assists in 10 minutes of action during Friday's preseason finale. "I just felt like Philly was the best opportunity - not to wish injuries or anything, but if something happens over the course of a season, I'll be able to step in."
