【】But a broken bone in his right foot --

Joel Embiid, the agile giant whose hands make a regulation basketball look like a child's toy, finally played in a real NBA basketball game Tuesday night.  。

Well, kind。Well,kind
。of. It was a pre-season game that didn't really count; the Philadelphia 76ers play their first 。

game on Oct. 26. But after a three-year wait, even 13 scant minutes of Embiid -- Indeed! Embiid! -- on an actual NBA court were enough to tantalize.。

SEE ALSO:My high school teammate, Kobe Bryant 。

First, you have to understand Embiid's history to understand why those 13 minutes -- and what he did during them -- were such a big deal. He's been a star-crossed star.
。 Embiid is originally from Cameroon. He starred during his first and only season at the University of Kansas, until that season was cut short at the end by a back injury. But still -- seven-footers with Embiid's combination of grace, power, and skill are rare gems. The Sixers picked him third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. 。But a broken bone in his right foot --
。

But a broken bone in his right foot --
。

, remember that for later -- sidelined Embiid for his entire rookie season. Then he needed another surgery to fix the problem, and missed his second season as well. 。

The upshot: Two years after being plucked third overall, Embiid had yet to show up in an NBA box score.
。

But the Vines, man! Just look at the Vines! This is why Sixers fans -- and basketball fans in general -- have been waiting with bated breathe for the past 20-odd months.。 Mashable Top StoriesStay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter
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Thanks for signing up!。 Here's Embiid receiving a pass on the wing, backing his defender into the post off the dribble, spinning, then hitting a fadeaway jump-shot.。

Ooooweeeee 。 .。CARD ID: 98205 。

Then, while he was nursing those injuries for the past two years, the 250-pounder apparently learned to shoot three-pointers?

What? Ok, fine -- his toe was on the line. But damn.
。Damn。

! That's some deep range for a big ol' dude who can also dunk on people's heads. 。 Which brings us to this next clip. Celtics rookie Jaylen Brown -- the high-flyer from Cal who was the third overall pick in the most recent NBA Draft -- decided at one point to drive the lane and elevate for an epic dunk.。Well, it 。

Well, it。

would。

"Three Vines do not a Hall of Fame career make," as the late John Wooden, a famed UCLA coach, once said. Nonetheless, it's undeniably awesome to finally,

finally。

see Embiid on an NBA court -- and looking damn good on that court.。 see Embiid on an NBA court -- and looking damn good on that court.。Here's hoping he can stay healthy and fulfill his vast potential.。

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