CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers have some shiny new stars in the form of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, but don't forget about a certain big man.
Joel Embiid has dealt with a slew of injuries throughout his career, but the big fella can still be a dominant player and a difference-maker when he's healthy. After a summer in which he was able to just work out and not have to focus on rehabbing any issues, he is enjoying a healthy training camp and he is making an impact on one of the team's many new faces.
Ariel Hukport, entering his third season in the league, has been defending Embiid in practice and has been impressed with the 2023 MVP winner.
"Great, great," Hukporti said of Embiid. "For me personally, it was more about patience. I feel
like he has a great offensive game when it comes to patience, getting in the air, getting to his spots. It just makes me a way better defensively. Obviously, he was an MVP in this league, and it just makes me a way better defender. I make him better, too, as an offensive player, as well."
Not yet able to establish himself at this early stage of his career, Hukporti will be looking to learn from Embiid and take any lessons he can get from his star teammate and apply them to his own game in the future. After two seasons with the New York Knicks, Hukporti is looking to help the Sixers and he is leaning on Embiid.
"Yeah, man," Hukporti added. "The post game is quite impressive, so I’m definitely taking that from him."
In fact, his overall offensive game is something Hukporti would love to show the Sixers as training camp continues. After not being able to show much with the Knicks, he is hoping for the chance to show that he can contribute on the offensive end.
"My offensive game," finished Hukporti. "I feel like the ball movement’s been quite good in training camp lately. It’s been quite good, in a positive sense. In a sense of of getting the ball in the pocket, and getting my floater in, and getting to the rim, and just showing more of my finishing and catching."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: New Sixers big man discusses what he's learned from star Joel Embiid
