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Former Cavs star Ilgauskas helping in Joel Embiid's rehab

THERE WAS a somewhat familiar figure roaming around the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday. When someone is 7 feet, 3 inches tall, you always give a double-take, and this time, it was because of Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

The former Cleveland Cavalier star was a guest of the 76ers, and for quite good reason. Ilgauskas was saddled early in his career with fractures to the navicular bone in his foot. It is the same injury Sixers center Joel Embiid is dealing with, following his second surgery, which will cause him to miss his second straight season.

"It's one of the things that we're proud of in trying to help Joel move through this injury, and bring somebody that has had two navicular injuries, like Z has had, and has gone on to play nine solid NBA years after two navicular injuries," Sixers coach Brett Brown said.