REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - The future of the NBA - and hopefully international basketball - was on display at the Staples Center with the Los Angeles Laker hosting the Philadelphia 76ers. And it was quite a night - one that Eye on the Future got to watch first hand.

It was an intriguing match-up of two teams believing they have a bright future thanks to an influx of exciting young talent. And afterwards it seems that the Sixers are a bit further along in the process thanks to their trio of international stars - Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric.

The Cameroon big man Embiid was an unstoppable force of nature - really doing whatever he wanted to around the basket and its immediate vicinity. What's scary is that the Yaounde native is only scratching the surface of what he’s capable of doing. Embiid is still only 23 years old and only has 43 NBA games under his belt - after playing just 31 games last season, which was his first after missing his first year out of the University of Kansas.

But what he's capable of right now is pretty intimidating if you are the rest of the NBA - Embiid abused Lakers big men Brook Lopez and Andrew Bogut to the tune of a career high 46 points on 16-of-20 and 16-of-19 free throws to go with 15 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocks.

He also knocked down 2-of-3 three-pointers - the second time this season that he's hit multiple shots from downtown. He's still hitting just 26 percent from three-point range this season, but if Embiid can add that to his game it will only make him that much more lethal.

Joel Embiid backed up all the talk with a stat line that puts him in the record books.

Best big man in the league? pic.twitter.com/HcPIvGRych

— Cycle (@bycycle) November 16, 2017

And while Sixers fans got to chant "Trust … the …. process", Cameroon fans must be drooling a week away from the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers about the thought of Embiid playing for green, red and yellow.

Australian fans must also be dreaming about the days when they can see Ben Simmons in the green and gold of the national team. Simmons seems well on his way to a Rookie of the Year title as he came up a rebound short of a triple double with 18 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds as well as five steals. Like Embiid, Simmons also missed his entire first season out of college and the 6ft 10in (2.08m) playmaker was outstanding - looking so smooth and composed at just 21 years of age. Simmons has great length and is able to rebound and pass over wings, post up smaller opposing guards (which is just about everybody) and he's staying within his game - committing just one turnover in 39 minutes against the Lakers. The three-point shot is still not there - he has yet to make a long-ball this season - but he has only taken seven three-pointers in 14 games.

"Watching 6’10" Ben Simmons & 7’1” Joel Embiid...reminds me of a duo the Lakers had once upon a time: Magic and Kareem." — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/SojEjxi990

— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) November 16, 2017

Embiid and Simmons are just two of the future rocks of this organization. Dario Saric collected seven points, six rebounds and three blocks against the Lakers and his overall season numbers are down in this his second year - to 9.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists from 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists as the Croatian - who is also still just 23 years old - still tries to figure out his spot in the team, playing a bit less with the ball and giving Embiid more room in the post than he was able to have for himself last season. But Saric is a great player and will do the little things a team needs to win - as the fans of the Croatian national team know very well.

And the Sixers are gaining more and more international fans as the team becomes more and more international. French 22-year-old shooting guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot has twice scored more than 15 points in a game this season. There is also Canadian Nik Stauskas, who is injured at the moment in this his fourth season as a 24-year-old; and 20-year-old Turkish international Furkan Korkmaz, who has gotten into just one game thus far this season, is loved by the Sixers team officials. 

Just to name two more names from the Sixers, Jahlil Okafor is still just 21 years old as he struggles at the moment to get into the rotation and this year’s number one draft pick Markelle Fultz - a 19-year-old - has only played four games as he deals with a shoulder injury.

So … Philadelphia fans have plenty to look forward to in the future - heck even the very near future if Embiid and Simmons can continue playing like that.

The Lakers fans come out of the game still with plenty of reason to be excited about the future in their own right.

Sure, Lonzo Ball clearly had an off-night - with just two points, five rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes. And he was benched for the fourth quarter for the second straight game after collecting his first triple-double of 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds against Milwaukee. But more fan and media attention needs to be shown to some of the other Lakers.

Career-high 26 points, 11 rebounds for Brandon Ingram. 👌🏼 #DukeintheNBA pic.twitter.com/L4fgws0sHl

— Amy Murray (@VTDukefan) November 16, 2017

Brandon Ingram is a stud in the making. He only turned 20 in September and is relentless and fearless in going to the rim - even against Embiid. He totalled 26 points and 11 rebounds against the Sixers and long term, it wouldn't be a surprise at all if Ingram one days plays for the United States internationally.

Lakers fans have - rightly so - fallen in love with Kyle Kuzma, who might be the steal of the 2017 NBA Draft with the 27th pick. The 22-year-old Kuzma is another of the fearless sorts, who loves attacking the basket but also can shot a bit from outside. He continues to develop and is going to be an important piece to this team for a long time.

Joel Embiid laughs after almost getting dunked on by Kyle Kuzma: https://t.co/0J9tv2Zp3u pic.twitter.com/YZarhb3JER

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 16, 2017

Julius Randle is already in his third full season with the Lakers - not including him missing his rookie campaign injured in 2014-15. But the former No. 7 overall pick will only turn 23 years old later this month and he has already averaged a double-double for a season - in 2015-16. Randle is playing fewer minutes than the past two seasons but is actually more productive in that time.

Missing from the game was Larry Nance Jr., who is out more than a month with a broken thumb. The 24-year-old is in his third season and he had earned his spot as the starting power forward on the Lakers as he continues to improve.

So, there is plenty to be happy about for the Lakers as well - not to mention the allure of Los Angeles and the franchise, which should bring in at least one big star next season.

But back to this season, the Sixers fans probably have more to be happy about at the moment. And basketball fans around the world as well as this exciting energetic group of youngsters is developing into something very entertaining. The Lakers aren’t too far off - and basketball is better for it.

David Hein

FIBA

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