CAMDEN, NJ — The Daryl Morey clinic was reduced to something far less than he projected it to be, or perhaps he was elevated for a moment, in a moment, as his victory lap was halted by the most sobering news.
The 76ers president was invited away during his media day appearance by team personnel, moments after it was announced Dikembe Mutombo passed away Monday morning after a bout with brain cancer.
When Morey returned, his broad smile was gone, replaced by reddened eyes, a shaken voice and stunned movements. He couldn’t answer the next question about Tyrese Maxey’s appearance, but he did make a personal reminiscence about the Hall of Fame center.
“I knew him personally, we were together for many seasons in Houston, obviously very important to the Sixers franchise as well,” Morey said. “Just a great man. When I was a rookie GM in this league, he was someone I went to all the time. His achievements on the court, we don’t need to talk too much. Just an amazing person, what he has done off the court for Africa.”
It was the 76ers’ acquisition of Mutombo in 2001 following a standout performance in the Eastern Conference comeback victory in the All-Star Game that floated him from Atlanta to Philadelphia, the catalyst in the franchise’s improbable run to the NBA Finals that June.
He was the Defensive Player of the Year that season, his fourth such honor, and although that team could muster only one win against the mighty Los Angeles Lakers, it is remembered fondly for Mutombo, and of course Allen Iverson and coach Larry Brown, and its sloppy mentality – along with two seven game triumphs in coming to the Finals. Philadelphia has not been to the Finals since.
76ers star Joel Embiid called Mutombo a “role model.”
“It’s a sad day, especially for us Africans,” Embiid said. “In addition to what he accomplished on the court, I think he was better off the court. He’s one of the guys I admire as far as having an impact.”
Mutombo’s impact, starting stateside at Georgetown alongside Alonzo Mourning and under late coach John Thompson, clearly extended to Embiid all these years later after he finally picked up a basketball in his teens.
Embiid’s recent regular seasons have been Hall-worthy, but he’s still looking for that Mutombo-taking-the-ball-and-cradling-it moment like he did in Seattle in 1994 when Mutombo’s Denver Nuggets shocked the top-seeded SuperSonics in the first . round, the very first 1-8 upset.
Embiid had different iterations of teammates after he reached elite status.
“A consequence. That’s really what I demand,” Embiid said. “If you keep changing guys every year, two years, I don’t think that’s going to get you anywhere. If you look at some of the teams that have won, they’ve been together for a while.
“For me, it’s all about consistency.”
Embiid was the constant, but he couldn’t carry the 76ers over the hump. He gutted Bell’s Palsy against the Knicks in the first round, smartly scoring 33 a night while Maxey ran circles around everyone defending him. It wasn’t enough, and the doubts about whether the 76ers’ window closed before it opened became irresistible to discuss.
On a day full of unexpected sadness, the expectations are still quite loud and undeniable in Philadelphia. Morey pulled off a coup when Paul George shunned his hometown Los Angeles Clippers and resisted overtures from the Golden State Warriors to fit seamlessly into the 76ers’ cap space this summer.
So while George is yet another change, he does play the style that easily fits into how the 76ers envision themselves. He’s a malleable two-way wing, a consistent plus-40 percent 3-point shooter who works well with the space Embiid will create by sheer presence and the gravity Maxey will command with his speed.
And for Embiid, George is the most consistent co-star he’s had since Jimmy Butler, and while George has missed significant time in three of his five seasons in Los Angeles, it’s better than Ben Simmons or James Harden.
It helps that George also seems on top of himself, having been through the gauntlet in Indiana, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles.
“I’ve always seen myself as one of the best players in the league,” George said. “At first, I wanted it to be mine, in a selfish way to push myself, wanting to be great. I wanted everything to fall on my shoulders. Going through it and having injuries (in Indiana) and going against a competitive and well-balanced and superstar team in Miami, you can’t do it alone. You know, you need star power. You need firepower.”
George is 34, the same age Mutombo was when he was rescued from Atlanta to be a big piece with the little man in Philly. Mutombo’s age may have prevented Philadelphia from making more runs at the title, but if history is any guide, these 76ers might have enough for a real shot at a ring.
