Guest on the podcast “#ThisLeague Uncut”the former NBA player Quincy Pondexter delivered a funny anecdote about the biggest signing of the summer: the arrival of Paul George to the Sixers to support Joel Embiid.
The beginning of the story is already magnificent since the former outside player who played for the Hornets, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Bulls and Spurs confided the origin of his friendship with Joel Embiid. It was born from their worst common experience as professional players: a serious foot fracture.
“We had the same agent. Joel had a broken navicular right before the draft. In 2013, I also broke my navicular, and I missed over 50 games that season. So our agents were telling me that I was going to have to talk to him about my experience, be like a big brother, about the rehab process, all of that stuff.”, he tells. “We talked about it and he immediately became my little brother. We spent time together, on and off the court, mostly off the court. Our relationship continued to grow (…). He's one of the best players in the NBA, and I'm proud to say he's one of my best friends.”
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Now regarding Paul George, Quincy Pondexter slipped that he was at the heart of the first exchanges with Joel Embiid. For good reason, it was he who put the two players in contact!
“Because Joel is one of my best friends, he went through me to get Paul's number to pitch the project to him. I don't even know how much the Sixers knew about this. But behind the scenes, I hate to say it, but one of the biggest moments was when I told him, 'You've got to keep convincing him to come, you've got to talk to him, you've got to do everything you can.'”
The Warriors were also in the running to get him, but Paul George ultimately chose to join Joel Embiid in Pennsylvania to create a mouthwatering Big Three with Tyrese Maxey. It seems that the perseverance exercised by the Embiid clan has finally paid off.
“Joel was also talking to Paul’s friends at that point. And there was a point where Joel gave up. He was like, ‘There’s no way he’s coming. There’s no way he’s going to make it to Philly. No way.’ I called Paul’s friends, and they said there was a real possibility. That we had to keep trying to recruit him (…). Eventually, it happened.”added Quincy Pondexter.
