Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid might not be too fond of his comparisons to top-overall pick Deandre Ayton, but the Sixers star is in no way opposed to lending a hand to prospective stars, as he did so with Orlando Magic rookie Mo Bamba earlier this summer.
Embiid's violent “welcome to the f***ing league” moment for Bamba had gone viral, as video footage of the Cameroonian big man posterizing the promising shot-blocker quickly made the rounds of Twitter and Instagram during the offseason.
Yet behind the scenes, Embiid couldn't have been more hospitable to his incoming NBA brethren, having shared his home and plenty of advice. The two watched countless hours of film, talked about basketball and life in the NBA at Embiid's home.
“He was a super generous dude, a very standup guy and someone you love to be around,’’ Bamba raved, according to John Denton of Magic.com.
Bamba will have the chance to put that advice to work during Monday's preseason game between the Magic and the 76ers, likely to see decent minutes behind starter Nikola Vucevic.
Much like Embiid, Bamba has tried to develop his all-around game, notably putting out a video showcasing his 3-point shooting skills prior to the NBA Draft, something that might have helped his stock, coming in as an elite shot-blocking talent.
“It’s amazing seeing someone as big as he is being as comfortable doing all kinds of different things,’’ Bamba said. “That’s a small part of my game that I’m trying to expand on. Just having him as living, breathing model of what I kind of envision for myself is nice.”
The two might even face off for a short stint during today's game, likely putting student versus teacher for a preview of the many meetings between these two teams throughout the season.
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