Philadelphia 76ers sign star who was once called the next Kevin Durant

Emoni Bates has reportedly signed with the Philadelphia 76ers

Emoni Bates fulfilled his NBA dream as the 49th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The 6’10” star was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

However, with the Cavs already having a solid core, Bates has barely earned any minutes on the team. In fact, Bates has featured in just 25 games for the Cavaliers in the past two seasons.

Evidently, Bates and the Cavs parted ways this summer, and following an extended free agency, the 21-year-old forward has signed on the dotted line with the 76ers, per Keith Pompey.

“The Sixers have signed Emoni Bates, Kennedy Chandler, Malcolm Hill, and Jaylen Martin to Exhibit 10 contracts,” Pompey tweeted on X.

An Exhibit 10 deal essentially means an invitation to the NBA Training Camp. It means Bates will have to impress the 76ers if he wants to earn a permanent spot on the roster ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.

What Kevin Durant thought of Emoni Bates in 2022

Considering Durant is regarded as one of the best scorers of all time, earning a comparison to him is no small feat.

As a result, most sports pundits expected Bates to carve out a solid NBA career. However, Bates’ journey in the league has been far from easy.

But during a 2022 interview with Yahoo Sports, Durant had a few words of wisdom for the young forward, showing immense trust in Bates.

“I like that he’s going the total opposite route in life. Leaving school early, transferring from Memphis, got arrested.

“Went through some s___. You gotta go through some s___ in this life to truly understand where you are,” Durant said.

“He’s playing good ball right now. He’s been through some s___. He’s a little more grounded,” KD added.

Bates has averaged just 3.1 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game in his career. Can Bates finally reach his potential with the 76ers? Only time will tell.