Joel Embiid's journey to becoming a lottery selection in the NBA Draft may never have come to fruition without the helping hand of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, his new teammate with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Minnesota Timberwolves traded Mbah a Moute to the 76ers as part of the three-team trade that sent Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cameroon native could become a valuable asset as the team develops the high-potential big man.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute can help guide Joel Embiid again
The Cameroon natives have a long history together, and a landscape-shifting trade has united mentor with pupil.
Brian Babineau, Getty Imgaes
For Sixers, Mbah a Moute value comes with his close relationship with Joel Embiid. Rookie needs mentorship; Moute will be counted on for it.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) August 22, 2014 Embiid’s first test in the professional basketball waters was in 2011 when he attended Mbah a Moute’s basketball camp in Cameroon after being urged by the older player. Embiid played volleyball and soccer before his transition to basketball, but Mbah a Moute saw an athlete with the moves of an NBA player, as The Wall Street Journal’s Ben Cohen notes:
Coaching at that camp was Cameroon native Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, the Minnesota Timberwolves forward, who was immediately smitten with Embiid’s natural repertoire of moves. “Those were moves that guys who had been playing for years were making,” said Mbah a Moute.
Embiid was invited to Mbah a Moute’s second camp in South Africa after making a big impression, and ultimately embarked on a life-changing voyage to the United States, chasing a new dream focused on basketball with a new mentor guiding him along the way. Embiid would attend Montverde Academy in Florida -- the same high school Mbah a Moute attended. He was a standout player at the renowned basketball high school, and went on to commit to the Kansas Jayhawks.
Mbah a Moute's advice to Embiid didn't stop there, however. Embiid missed the end of the 2013-14 NCAA regular season, along with post-season tournaments, because of a back injury. The Jayhawks were eliminated in the round of 32, and freshman teammate Andrew Wiggins quickly made his decision to move on to the professional level. Embiid looked to Mbah a Moute to gain clarity on the pros and cons of being a one-and-done player, and decided he too would declare for the NBA Draft.
As fate would have it, the two will now be reunited under the 76ers’ colors.
Philadelphia is preparing for the long haul. It didn't shy away from drafting Nerlens Noel after he suffered an ACL tear, and it didn't allow Embiid's back and foot issues stop them from taking another high-potential big man with a top pick for the second straight year. Mbah a Moute won't save Philadelphia from a season expected to be spent at the bottom of the Eastern Conference as it rebuilds, but he can once again be there to guide the pupil he singled out in Cameroon three years ago.
Transitioning into the stardom of the NBA and recovering from a serious injury won’t be easy tasks for Embiid. He’s only played basketball at a high level for about three years, and has mostly made up for his lack of experience with raw talent. There’s much for the 7-foot phenom to learn, but he won’t have to go far to find a helping hand when he needs it. Mbah a Moute will once again be there to help him reach his potential.
The difference? This time, it will be in the NBA. Exactly where Mbah a Moute envisioned Embiid spiking basketballs and using his size and skill to dominate opposition when he first met the high-profile talent in their homeland.
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