Kawhi Leonard is excited to have a seven-foot family friend as a Clippers teammate

After his one-year deal with the 76ers ended, Mo Bamba signed with the LA Clippers for free agency. An actual physical specimen in every sense, the former University of Texas player finds himself in a familiar space, playing alongside close friend and mentor Kawhi Leonard.

The two Clippers teammates go back a long way, given Kawhi’s close association with the Bamba family, courtesy of Mo’s elder brother Sidiki Johnson. The two-time champion took a keen interest in the seven-foot center, grooming him for the NBA.

Attending the Media Day, Kawhi was asked about his friendship with Mo, especially now that they were teammates. The two-time Finals MVP was excited to have the former Magic big man on board and gave insights into their friendship over the years.

“I’ve known him since he probably was in high school.” - Kawhi hopes to provide the best advice to Mo

Having watched Mo from a close lens, Kawhi hopes to help the 26-year-old in the best capacity, stating the following .

“I’ve known him since he was probably in high school going for college. So, they are just some familiar faces and mutual friends. You know, so just watching them. Helping them with whatever they need. I’m not saying there’s a lot that I can give him, but if he asks me questions here or there, You know, giving the best advice that I can, and you know it would be fun to have them around.”

Onboarding Mo gives Ty Lue and the crew a lot of ammunition on defense, considering the former’s shot-blocking skills, rebounding, agility, and ability to develop 3-point shots. As a backup center to Joel Embiid last season, the former Sixer averaged 4.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 1.1 BPG, shooting 39% from beyond the arc.

What can you expect from Mo Bamba on the Clippers?

Touted as the perfect opportunity for the center big man, Mo could benefit from mentoring Kawhi and develop his strengths under coaching savants like Ty Lue and Jeff Van Gundy.

Coming off the bench, the 6th pick in the 2018 draft could serve as a defensive wall in the interiors. Mo could also work on polishing his 3-point game to the best.

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