The Philadelphia 76ers are loaded with young players, most of which are unlikely to shine until a couple of more years. To add some needed experience, the team has commissioned two veteran big men – Emeka Okafor and Kris Humphries – to provide muscle and guide the neophytes.
Old guys out to prove something
Okafor is 35 while Humphries is 32. Both are slowly headed to that twilight part of their career. For the former, he returns after disappearing back in 2013. He was diagnosed with a herniated C4 cervical disc and was ruled out indefinitely, CSN Philly reported.
Humphries, on the other hand, has been around. He has become one of the NBA’s premiere journeymen and is technically in search for a place which he can call home. The 6-foot-9 cager will be playing on his 9th NBA team. He has had previous stints with the Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns and the Atlanta Hawks. He holds career averages of 6.7 points and 5.4 rebounds, figures that aren’t exactly prominent.
Backup and mentoring
With young guys like Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric, Ben Simmons and maybe Joel Embiid (if healthy) around, Okafor and Humpries are likely to spell the young guys and teach them a thing or two. They may not make a big difference but are elements that can help mold the young players into tougher ones moving forward.
Right now, both are just thankful for being given the chance to suit up and share a thing or two. Their role on the Sixers seems to be more on providing experience, perhaps the best thing they can look forward to for now.
Both have been signed for the preseason, meaning there is a chance that they may eventually be cut. That setup seems fine for both as they try to jockey for a slot and hopefully get a chance to continue their play in the regular season.
Humphries and Okafor can make something out of nothing if they play their cards right. If not with the Sixers, other teams in need of veteran big men could come knocking. They are in a pretty tight predicament though anything can happen.
The two NBA vets are there because they want to play basketball. They simply want to have fun and ignore the fact that they do not hold guaranteed contracts.
Their performance will be closely monitored by the Sixers and perhaps other teams who they play against. Once the preseason is over, both can either stay in Philly, join another team or go back to the free agent market and wait. If not now, Humphries and Okafor could get a call at some point, a process that any basketball player normally deals with.
