Former NBA Star Says Joel Embiid Needs a Russell Westbrook Type Leader
During a recent episode of Gil's Arena, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas said Joel Embiid needs a teammate like LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook.
"He needs a Westbrook style," Arenas said of the Philadelphia 76ers star. "He needs a Westbrook. Someone who is gonna demand - like, nah we're not doing that sh-t. Like he needs that type of personality, because Joel is the type of person that does step up to that type of environment."
Believing the reigning MVP would benefit from the leadership style of a player like Westbrook, Arenas said Embiid would respond well to that environment. Arenas has been a strong advocate for Westbrook on his show, recently sharing a story about the time Bradley Beal first practiced with him on the Washington Wizards:
"Hold on. Hold on. Give me the ball," Arenas said Westbrook told his new Wizards teammates. "Y'all know who the f--k that is? Bradley motherf--king Beal right there. All-Star. All-NBA player. Y'all went up seven times, he didn't get the ball. Who the f--k do y'all think y'all are? That's Bradley fu--ing Beal right there. He's supposed to get the ball all seven times... [Beal] said no one has ever said that sh-t, man."
A story like this is why Arenas believes Embiid would benefit from a leader like Westbrook. While Arenas did not suggest the two would ever be teammates, he did say the 76ers star could use a player like that around him.
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