If there’s one big man who knows a thing or two about going on to a long, productive career despite being hampered by foot issues early on, it’s retired NBA great Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Now he’s looking to pass along some of that knowledge over to Sixers big man Joel Embiid.
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday, Ilgauskas is present at the opening of Sixers training camp to mentor Embiid.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas attended the #Sixers training-camp practice. He's a mentor to Joel Embiid.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) September 27, 2016
Ilgauskas was drafted as a 20-year-old by the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 1996, but missed his entire rookie year with a broken bone in his foot. He would return to play in all 82 games in the 1997-98 campaign, then suffered a navicular bone fracture, that, with the complications of surgery, limited him to just 29 games over the next three seasons.
The Lithuanian’s situation was relatively similar to that of Embiid, who was drafted by the Sixers at age 20 in 2014 and missed all of his first two NBA seasons, also with a navicular bone injury. Ilgauskas would go on to play for ten more years upon returning for the second time in 2001, making two All-Star teams and ultimately having his jersey number retired by the Cavaliers.
Embiid, who finally appears to be on track to make his NBA debut in 2016-17, will be hoping for a comparable career arc to unfold. If Ilgauskas can provide him with some valuable insights on how to ease himself back into action and not overexert his seven-foot frame as it continues to recover, it could go a long way for the Cameroonian as he looks to get his pro career off and running.
Image via NBADUNKMAN on YouTube
H/T NBA Reddit
