Lakers News: Mo Bamba Joins Growing Group of Former LA Big Men in Similar Destination

Once the Lakers waived center Mo Bamba earlier this offseason, it was unlikely that he would return to the team. He reportedly had interest but ultimately decided to head elsewhere, signing a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Bamba was extremely limited during his time with the Lakers as injuries took their toll and kept him off the court. Now he gets a chance to redeem himself and then open himself back up to the market with hopefully more value.

But one part of this signing is interesting. It’s the trend of former Laker big men joining the 76ers. Bamba becomes the most recent, following Dwight Howard, Montrez Harrell and Andre Drummond. It’s a weird coincidence but one that makes sports fun. These are the small moments in sports that make them so great because it’s so unlikely but real.

Howard sent 2012-2013 with the Lakers and then re-joined the team in 2019-2020. He helped them win the 2020 NBA title before departing in the offseason for Philly.

Harrell joined LA in 2020-2021 to replace Howard and helped the Lakers reach the postseason that season. He then bounced around between Washington and Charlotte before joining the 76ers last season.

Drummond came to the Lakers towards the end of the 2020-2021 season and then joined Philadelphia that following offseason, switching places with Howard, who came back to LA for the 2021-2022 season.

Bamba now becomes the fourth LA big man to head to the city of brotherly love. And if you really want to get crazy, former Lakers center Andrew Bynum also went to the 76ers after winning two titles in LA. He was technically traded to Philadelphia for Howard ironically. 

Sports sometimes have a funny way of having things happen and this is another example of that.

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