Philadelphia 76ers sensation Joel Embiid ins't just growing in the hearts of the people from the City of Brotherly Love, but also growing on legends of the sport, namely former Sixer and worldwide philanthropist Dikembe Mutombo.

The 7-foot-2 finger-wagging big man has been utterly fond of the Cameroonian international, telling Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated he views Embiid “like my son” and tries to “find a place where I can pray for him, may God heal him” on a daily basis.

Embiid and Mutombo were part of the NBA Africa Games earlier this month, getting to know each other even more as they interacted with the locals, had basketball clinics and ultimately participated in the Team World vs. Team Africa main attraction in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mutombo started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve living conditions in his native Congo, back in 1997 and was one of the pioneers of the Basketball Without Borders program, which has helped the youth of many different countries throughout the years.

A four-time Defensive Player of the Year, doing so with three different teams during his 18-year career, Mutombo has served as a mentor to Embiid throughout his three years since being drafted, hoping to guide him through the next few years as he evolves into one of the most versatile centers of the modern era.