Former Sixers guard Ish Smith completely satisfied for fulfillment Joel Embiid is having
PHILADELPHIA–Ish Smith has been all over the place within the NBA. The 13-year veteran within the NBA, at the moment with the Denver Nuggets, has performed for 13 groups in his profession and that features the Philadelphia 76ers.
After on the lookout for constant NBA minutes with completely different groups, Smith joined the Sixers within the 2014-15 season after being waived by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and he lastly obtained his probability. He performed 27.1 minutes per recreation in 25 video games with 14 begins. That led to him becoming a member of the New Orleans Pelicans within the 2015 offseason earlier than being traded again to the Sixers within the 2015-16 season.
General, he performed 75 video games for the Sixers throughout two seasons and he met a younger large man by the identify of Joel Embiid throughout his time in Philadelphia. Whereas he by no means performed a recreation with the massive fella as a result of his foot accidents, Smith was left feeling impressed by what Embiid may do on the ground throughout their time collectively.
With Smith making one other return to Philadelphia on Saturday, he spoke on what he remembered about Embiid and the way completely satisfied he’s for his success now.
Smith praises Embiid
“Jo, we sat on the aircraft collectively. He would sit proper beside me and I’m so completely satisfied for him as a result of he would discuss what he was gonna do and the way he wished to do it right here in Philly and it’s all got here to fruition. We was sitting on the aircraft and he’d be like ‘Ish, I wanna do that, I’m gonna come. This 12 months, I’m damage. Subsequent 12 months, I’m gonna come again and play. I’m gonna play effectively. I’m gonna get an extension, and from there, we’re gonna be within the playoffs from then on. Like for the remaining.’ And it’s all come to fruition.
So I’m completely satisfied for him. That’s my man. Clearly, I’m again within the West so it’s completely different, final time I used to be right here was playoff time once I was in D.C. so we needed to compete within the playoffs, but it surely’s simply completely different vibes. Followers, you guys, have all the time proven a number of love each time I got here again regardless of being on the alternative facet.”
Smith on if there was any doubt that Embiid would succeed
“No. He had been by way of so many accidents, however he gave me the vibes that he was targeted and he was locked in and what he was saying, he meant what he was saying so I by no means doubt anyone. I actually don’t. once you get someone who believes in themselves and that’s harmful.
Jo was someone who believed in himself, believed in what he mentioned, and he had all of the expertise and the ability. I bear in mind watching him work out one time and I bounce move it to him one time and he was like ‘Ish’—as a result of bear in mind, on the time, me and Nerlens (Noel) had a superb connection. He’s like ‘Ish, I can catch lobs, too’ so I got here off the pick-and-roll and threw it to him. He obtained so excessive and this was younger Jo so he was gentle, he was figuring out on daily basis, slim, and he went up and obtained it. I used to be like ‘Yo, this child is unbelievable’.
So I went house in the course of the summer season and they’d name me. Coach Brett Brown would name me and be like ‘Ish, this dude is—I’m telling you, he’s unbelievable. He’s unbelievable’ so that you kinda knew it was gonna occur, it simply takes a while and now he’s taking part in effectively. Now we obtained a ravishing matchup (Embiid and Nikola Jokic). We obtained two large males who with the sport is now all 3-point photographs, you bought two legit large males so will probably be enjoyable to look at.”
Smith is grateful for his time in Philadelphia
“It’s pure pleasure. That is the place kinda like my profession kinda began in a way in having the ability to play so I’m very grateful and grateful that the Lord introduced me right here as a result of Philly was nice. It actually was. I used to be speaking to someone the opposite day, when you concentrate on these groups, you had Robert Covington, Richaun Holmes, you had Christian Wooden, you had TJ McConnell, you had Nerlens, you had Jahlil Okafor, we have been gifted, however we have been younger, Jerami Grant, we had a gifted crew, and we have been throughout the identical age so we have been simply having fun with it. Determining the NBA recreation. We didn’t win a number of video games, however I believe Philly springboarded a number of our careers, and gave us the flexibility to kinda submit ourselves within the NBA.”