Deion Sanders gives his take on NBA stars missing matchups

Coach Prime tells players to get ready for marquee matchups

Deion Sanders took time out of his schedule to meet with the Philadelphia 76ers. He didn't have to go far as the NBA's Eastern Conference favorites flew to Fort Collins on Monday evening. They'll be in Northern Colorado to practice as part of new head coach Nick Nurse's plans for the team.

Joel Embiid and the Sixers gathered around for the fireside chat with Coach Prime. He shared stories and took questions from the players and even challenged the MVP to face-off against his western rival, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic. 

'A leader is a leader. No matter what's going down, he leads," Sanders said.

"It's different when we came up. Back in the day, MJ wanted that smoke. A lot of folks duck that smoke right now. They want to be Tarzan on paper. Don’t sell me a game and tell me this is what I’m going to get it. Then when I turn on the TV I don’t get that. Give me that. If Embiid is playing the Joker, I want to see Embiid versus the Joker. I want to see it, alright. He goes and gets it, right? I love the matchup but I want to see it. That’s why I stayed up.”

Nikola Jokic says "Sorry" for not knowing about Deion Sanders

January is going to be NBA must-see TV with two great MVP battles. Jokic and the Nuggets travel to Philly on Jan. 16. While Embiid and the Sixers make the return trip to the Mile High City two weeks later on Jan. 27. The Nuggets are coming off the first NBA Championship in franchise history. They open the 2023-24 season against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 24.  

The 76ers will be in Fort Collins for training camp until Oct. 6. They'll head to Milwaukee for a season opener with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks on Oct. 26.