Nerlens Noel has been off-limits to resume contact drills, but he is making progress in his recovery from a torn ACL.

“I feel great. I’m really starting to feel like my old self, being able to have my explosiveness. But I’m definitely being careful with it,” Noel said. ”From Day 1, every time I was in rehab, the last few reps, I would just think how bad I want to get on the court because of how much I want to prove to myself that I can get back and be the player I want to be.”

Noel has always hoped to play for the Philadelphia 76ers by Christmas.

“I want to be 100 percent confident not only physically, but mentally coming back from it,” Noel said.