There was a pause as Ikem Ekwonu considered the question about his teammate Damien Lewis’s impact on his game. “So I’m not gonna lie, while you were talking, I was thinking of a Marvel comparison,” Ekwonu admitted with laughter. He described Lewis as both a family man and a fierce player on the field. “He’s a dog, he likes to move guys around… and that’s definitely a mindset I buy into.”
Ekwonu likened Lewis to Drax the Destroyer from Guardians of the Galaxy, played by wrestler Dave Bautista. Drax is known for his strength and gentle demeanor towards those who deserve it.
Ekwonu also compared teammate Yosh Nijman to Groot, another character from Guardians of the Galaxy. “Yosh Nijman might present like he’s stoic—(so) I also like to say Groot,” Ekwonu said. Groot is depicted as loyal and protective.
The comparisons continued with Robert Hunt being humorously debated over his basketball skills on the offensive line. Ekwonu praised Nijman’s post-up abilities, comparing him to NBA Hall of Famer Tim Duncan.
As for himself, Ekwonu related to Kenneth Lofton Jr., describing him as an underrated but talented player.
Ekwonu expressed excitement about retaining the entire unit for another year, highlighting its importance in developing team chemistry. “It’s definitely rare… retaining as many guys as we did,” he noted.
Dave Canales aims for the Panthers’ identity to include a strong run game, reliant on their offensive line—the guardians of the Panthers galaxy.
“The trenches are where… it really dictates the game,” said Ekwonu. The goal is clear: dominate opponents physically in every play.
