You can't judge a player by his family.
Despite his tainted history with outspoken father LaVar Ball, 76ers center Joel Embiid offers nothing but praise for Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball.
"I love Lonzo," Embiid told ESPN. "The whole situation with them, I think it's just fun. I love what he's doing, especially with his own shoe. He's staking his own place. People think I hate him, but I love him."
Embiid had tweeted at 76ers rookie Ben Simmons during the NBA Draft in June, asking him to "please dunk on him so hard that his daddy runs on the court to save him." Embiid claimed the tweet was in reference to a comment Simmons' sister, Olivia, had made after LaVar's controversial encounter with Fox Sports host Kristine Leahy.
LaVar wasn't pleased and responded by saying Embiid and Simmons "ain't played a game, always hurt, and at the bottom of the totem pole."
"I just meant it to be funny," Embiid said. "Even the thing I said, 'Oh please dunk on him,' I just took it from [Simmons'] sister, who said that like weeks before that."
The feud since has faded after Embiid was fined $10,000 for saying "f— LaVar Ball" in an Instagram Live video.
The 76ers and Lakers meet for this first time this season at 10:30 p.m. ET Wednesday at the Staples Center.
