The Philadelphia 76ers have a young budding star on their hands in Joel Embiid, and his charming personality even found a way to warm the heart of DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings.
The two played a good battle on the court Monday night, one won by Cousins and the Kings thanks to a late three by the big man, but the two showed a mutual respect for each other the only way big men know how. They slapped each other on the butts a couple times as they made their way up the court.
After the game, Cousins offered some rare praise for his opponent, suggesting Embiid could be one of the best bigs in the NBA, after Cousins retires, of course.
DeMarcus Cousins says Joel Embiid has a chance to be the best big in the league…after he retires pic.twitter.com/yarVdUWOiS
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) December 27, 2016
“I like that kid a lot. I don’t give a lot of people props, but I like that kid a lot, man,” Cousins said. “I think he got a great chance of being the best big in this league… after I retire.”
Seeing the friendly and competitive spirit between a couple players the way Cousins and Embiid showed Monday night was refreshing to see. Unfortunately, the Sixers and Kings do not play more than two games each season, so interactions like this may be rare. The Sixers and Kings will play again though, this time in Philadelphia. The two teams will play a rescheduled game on January 30, after a previously scheduled game in Philadelphia had to be postponed due to poor court conditions.
Of course, whoever was behind the Kings’ Twitter account struck gold once again at the expense of the Sixers, while also seizing the moment between Cousins and Embiid.
https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/813597909576884224
https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/813626045052043264
