It looks like Deandre Ayton drew a picture of himself dunking on Embiid
Aug 13, 2018, 6:40 AM | Updated: Dec 24, 2018, 9:17 am
Phoenix Suns rookie Deandre Ayton drew a mock-up basketball card for Panini America, a memorabilia company.
It depicts him dunking over another person.
It’s not 100 percent clear who the recipient of the posterization is, but the person was drawn with the No. 21 and what looks like a “PHI” on the jersey.
That sounds like Philadelphia center Joel Embiid.
So . . . who is @Suns rook @DeandreAyton posterizing in his @PaniniAmerica Sketch Card? #WhoDoYouCollect #PaniniNBARookie #WhoIsIt pic.twitter.com/2tNE1fZzIs
— Panini America (@PaniniAmerica) August 10, 2018
Embiid thought the same thing.
I love when KIDS dream BIG #ThisIsWhyWePlay #WhereAmazingHappens https://t.co/o2SOGMJjIs
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) August 12, 2018
Embiid, as famous for his Twitter personality as his on-court brand, is not only saying Ayton won’t dunk on him; he’s basically patting the rookie on the head and saying “Sit down, son.”
Embiid, 24, is more than four years older than Ayton.
His caption, along with the hashtags “ThisIsWhyWePlay” and “WhereAmazingHappen,” is a reference to the NBA campaign that is often associated with children being awestruck by interactions with NBA players.
Even though Ayton has yet to play, it’s not the first time they’ve connected via Twitter.
About 90 minutes after the 2018 draft, Embiid tweeted about the No. 1 pick.
Don’t compare Ayton to me either… I play DEFENSE
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 22, 2018
It won’t be long until the two can face off in person. On Nov. 19, the Suns will travel to Philadelphia to take on Embiid and the Sixers.
Ayton will have a chance to turn his card into reality.
Outside the drawing, Ayton had a good time with Panini at the rookie photo shoot.
He drained a granny 3-point shot and then ran off the court in jubilation a la Stephon Marbury.
GRANNY-SHOT . . . for THREE! @Suns top pick @DeandreAyton makin’ it look easy at the @PaniniAmerica @NBA Rookie Photo Shoot. #WhoDoYouCollect #PaniniNBARookie pic.twitter.com/nQgPTRjxNS
— Panini America (@PaniniAmerica) August 12, 2018
He also serenaded the group to some Ella Mai.
Oooooh… @DeandreAyton serenades the #NBARooks shoot! pic.twitter.com/sJKTTUvSbc
— NBA (@NBA) August 12, 2018
But just because he knows how to sing “Boo’d Up” doesn’t mean he won’t be savage on the court.
He made sure everyone knows that it’s #BullySzn.
#TimeToRise #BullySzn 🦍 pic.twitter.com/JnquIK5qdt
— Deandre Ayton (@DeandreAyton) August 11, 2018
