“Trust the process” has become a regular term in NBA circles to justify tanking full seasons to improve draft lottery odds. It was a rallying cry for the now former GM of the Philadelphia 76ers, Sam Hinkie. Joel Embiid was one of his most prized selections in the NBA Draft, and it took a couple of years for Embiid to show what he could do on a basketball court due to foot injuries.
He is now the driving force on one of the NBA’s most exciting teams to watch.
76ers and NBA fans now watch with cautious optimism, knowing that even in Embiid’s first glorious season, he only played 31 games until he was lost for the season with another injury. It’s a treat to watch Embiid play, and when he bust out moves like the below in a tightly contested game late in the fourth quarter, you know no moment will ever be too big for the former Kansas star.
Embiid is legitimately dominant down low and has the range that fits with today’s game. It’s terrifying for opposing defenses that he can shoot from anywhere on the court and there aren’t many that can contain him in the post. He finished with an absurd stat line of 46 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocks in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers last night. He’s the first in NBA history to have 45+ points, 15+ rebounds, 7+ assists and 7+ blocks in a game since blocks became a stat.
When everyone had their eyes on the Lonzo Ball vs. Ben Simmons matchup, Embiid reminded everyone who top dog on the court was.
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