Montco Bakery Helps Joel Embiid Fight for All Star Team, Rihanna

Philadelphia 76ers charismatic star center and forward Joel Embiid is on a quest to make the NBA All-Star Team, and he's receiving some help from a local business.

The Collegeville Bakery changed their sign to "Rihanna Joel Embiid has love on the brain NBA vote."

It's apparently a reference to the pop star telling Embiid after a conversation to "come back when you're an All-Star," according to TMZ. Embiid identified her only as his "famous crush." One of Rihanna's hit songs is Love on the Brain.

Embiid's recent quest for an All Star birth has thus taken on added significance.

Fast-forward to earlier this week: Embiid took notice of the Collegeville Bakery's supportive sign.

In a Facebook post, the Bakery said that representatives for Embiid reached out to owners Steve and Patrizia Carcarey. They invited the couple to the 76ers game on Wednesday to sit in Embiid's special seats. They also gave the Bakery another set of tickets, which they gave away in a contest.

Embiid has established himself as not only one of the leagues premier rookies, but one of the best all-around players in the first half of the season. The 7 foot tall, 250 pound native of Cameroon is averaging 19.4 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game. The Sixers, meanwhile, building off of his momentum, are 11-25 and have climbed out of last place.

Image courtesy Collegeville Bakery.