Joel Embiid welcomes Mo Bamba to NBA
By Daniel Stave
The 76ers’ superstar dunked on the recent draft pick in a pick-up game, and it’s one of the best videos of the summer.
Regardless of what team signs LeBron James, or what moves happen before next season starts, Joel Embiid has locked up a spot among the winners of the NBA’s offseason.
In a pick-up game featuring several NBA players, Embiid threw down a monstrous dunk on rookie Mo Bamba.
The Sixers center then let the newcomer know about it, screaming, “Welcome to the f***ing league!”
While Embiid is becoming one of the best players in the NBA on the court, he’s also one of the biggest personalities off the court. This offseason alone, he’s already burned J.R. Smith for his Game 1 Finals gaffe, shared his thoughts on the Bryan Colangelo debacle, and played pick up against an average joe at a Philly playground.
And Bamba wasn’t the first rookie Embiid dunked on.
According to SB Nation, the scrimmage was setup in Los Angeles by well-known trainer Drew Hanlen. It featured NBA players Jayson Tatum, Taurean Prince, Jordan Clarkson and Meyers Leonard.
Bamba appeared to give Embiid a solid defensive challenge on the play. But that’s not always enough against the NBA’s best.
The Orlando Magic selected Bamba with the sixth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He stands 7-foot-1 and has an absurd wingspan of 7-foot-10. That allowed Bamba block 111 shots in 30 games for the Texas Longhorns last year. He also averaged 12.9 points and 10.5 rebounds as a college freshman.
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Bamba was one of the top prospects in the draft because of what his size allows him to do defensively. He’s also seen as a modern big man because he has the ability to knock down outside shots. He made 14 three-point field goals in 2017-18 and has continued to work on his shot in the pre-draft process.
Assuming Orlando re-signs restricted free agent Aaron Gordon, it will boast one of the league’s longest, most athletic front lines with Bamba, Gordon, and 2017 draft pick Jonathan Isaac.
Don’t let it scar you Mo, even the best ones get dunked on.