On the surface, Joel Embiid and J.J. Redick couldn’t be more different.
Embiid is a 7-foot-2 marvel from Cameroon. Redick is an unassuming 6-foot-4 guard from Roanoke, Virginia. Embiid was a one-and-done Kansas Jayhawk who picked up basketball less than a decade ago. Redick was a decorated four-year star at Duke, drafted when Embiid was still pursuing a professional volleyball career. Embiid, the No. 3 pick in 2014, entranced franchises with his blend of size, quickness, and burgeoning skill set, and has been an NBA star since his first jump ball. Redick lasted until the 11th pick back in 2006, with questions circling around his athleticism and defense, and wasn’t a consistent rotation player until his fourth season.