NBA: Embiid asks teammate Simmons to dunk over Ball next season

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, left, looks on from the bench with Ben Simmons.  Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Lonzo Ball has yet to log in a second in the National Basketball Association (NBA), but he already has a huge mission placed on his back.

Shortly after being taken second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA Draft, Lonzo’s outspoken father, LaVar, took over the spotlight and guaranteed that his son would take the team to the playoffs next year.

READ: Family affair: Lakers grab Lonzo Ball with 2nd overall pick

As the patriarch was being interviewed on live television, last year’s No. 1 pick, Ben Simmons, of the Philadelphia Sixers, tweeted the phrase “Crazy pills,” which was seemingly directed at the elder Ball.

Crazy pills

— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) June 22, 2017

His teammate, Joel Embiid, joined the fray and wrote: “Please dunk on him so hard that his daddy runs on the court to save him,” again apparently referring to the father-and-son duo.

Please dunk on him so hard that his daddy runs on the court to save him.. https://t.co/cMvt5RYiSQ

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 22, 2017

The former Kansas Jayhawk’s response became such a hit on social media that it has been retweeted over 40,000 times.

Although it’s too early to tell, a rivalry might be brewing between the Lakers and Sixers next year, as their lottery picks Ball and Markelle Fultz playing the same positions.  Khristian Ibarrola /ra

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