MEMPHIS, Tenn. _ Nerlens Noel is ready.
The Dallas Mavericks center is geared up to face Joel Embiid Saturday night at American Airlines Arena. Noel isn't concerned that his 6-foot-11, 214-pound frame is shorter and lighter than the 76ers' franchise player's frame, which is closer to 7-2 and 290.
He's aware Embiid will most likely talk trash and even yell "He can't guard me" throughout the game after scoring.
"Oh, yeah, I'm going to come at him," Noel said of his former teammate. "Come at him. I think we are going to have a great competition, great battle _ just like we used to in practice.
"We're both players, period. So I think it's going to be a good matchup."
It's a shame the two won't have microphones taped to their jerseys for the matchup. The back-and-forth could be legendary.
They were best friends on the Sixers before Noel was traded to the Mavericks (1-4) in February. This will mark his second matchup against the Sixers (1-4). However, Embiid was sidelined in the first appearance with a torn meniscus in his left knee.
"It's going to be a good moment right here," Noel said of the head-to-head matchup.
But he's also excited about seeing and facing all of his former teammates. As of Thursday, he was planning to meet several _ including Embiid and Ben Simmons _ for dinner Friday night in Dallas.
So this isn't just another game, right?
"It kind of is. It kind of isn't," Noel said. "I'm a little more focused on the whole year than just this game.
"But this a game that has a little more significance than others. So I'm just going to have fun with it and play basketball. Try to give them an 'L' to take back to Philly."
