Mutombo: Embiid could be better than me, except at shot-blocking
Dikembe Mutombo trusts the process.
The legendary shot-blocker, who hails from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is serving as an NBA ambassador in Johannesburg, where he raved about a fellow hooper from the continent in Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.
"I love that kid," Mutombo told The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears. "I will tell you the truth. I love that kid. He's very talented. I think he is more talented than me at that age when I came into the NBA."
The 23-year-old Cameroonian is coming off a stellar rookie season in which he posted averages of 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 2.1 assists in just 25.4 minutes per night. However, he was shut down after just 31 games to undergo season-ending knee surgery. Before that, his NBA debut was delayed by two years while he dealt with foot fractures.
Mutombo hopes injuries won't further derail his career.
"He just wants to play the game," the four-time DPOY said. "I've been praying a lot for him, a lot that he will get an opportunity to play a full season in the NBA. I hope it's coming. He really wants to follow in my footsteps, and I'm happy to see that."
He added that if Embiid can get healthy - he's still recovering from his March 24 surgery - he has the potential to be "super good."
"Maybe better than me," Mutombo said. "Offensively, he is so much further ahead than so many of us that have come from the continent of Africa. More than many big men have defensively proven themselves in the NBA. There is nothing we can say about that.
"The kid can rebound. He can block shots. I just want him to stay healthy and play the game, because he does love basketball."
The eight-time All-Star suggested, however, that he's better at swatting shots than Embiid, who's working to get on his level.
"One thing he can't do better than me is he can't block shots like I do. I know he is watching a lot of my tapes and a lot of my videos," the retired rim-protector said.
Mutombo averaged 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and an assist per game over 18 seasons. He's second all time in blocked shots with 3,289.