The butt slap has long been a paragon of athletic camaraderie. When a teammate excels on the field of play, you'd be remiss not to slap dat ass. It's simply good manners.But what happens when a pair of opponents engage in a vigorous round of butt-slapping…and don't stop? Well, then, you get the magical scene acted out by big men DeMarcus Cousins and Joel Embiid. Cousins, the two-time All-Star, slapped the rump of Embiid, the odds-on favorite for Rookie of the Year, who quickly returned the favor. And on and on it went. The holiday season may be drawing to a close, but it's nice to see two competitors keeping the spirit of the season in their hearts…and hands…and butts.The veteran Cousins finished with 30 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks in a 102-100 win. Young Embiid more than held his own with 25 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in 29 minutes, prompting Cousins to say, "I like that kid a lot. I think he got a great chance to be the best big in this league…after I retire."Embiid wasn't quite so happy after the game. Believing he had been fouled by Cousins on the last possession, the Sixers big marked this Instagram post from "Bullshit Land."Courting controversy, antagonizing the refs—is it any surprise that Cousins loves this kid?
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