Joel Embiid Gets Philly on Its Feet with First Basket and Block
Tim Casey, Special for USA TODAY Sports 11:19 a.m. EDT October 27, 2016
These players opened the season with monster games statistically. USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks good coming out of the gates.(Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
PHILADELPHIA After Joel Embiids NBA debut on Wednesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers center sat in the teams locker room next to Sonny Hill, a local legend. Hill, 80, grew up in the city and was longtime friends with Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain. He now runs a league for amateur basketball players and serves as an executive adviser for the 76ers.
Since the franchise drafted Embiid with the third pick of the 2014 draft, Hill has helped mentor Embiid. Hill was there as Embiid worked through two surgeries on his right foot and missed his first two NBA seasons. And he was at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday when Embiid finally had a chance to play his first game.
Embiid, who grew up in Cameroon and only started playing basketball five years ago, had one of the most memorable performances in the franchises recent history. He finished with a team-high 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 22:45 during the 76ers 103-97 season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He has a chance to be the most dominant big man in the game today, Hill told USA TODAY Sports. Quote me. Quote me.
The hometown fans were just as enthusiastic. They greeted Embiid with chants of MVP, MVP, MVP when he shot free throws in the second half. And with 9:47 remaining, they screamed Trust the Process, a reference to the term that former 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie used to describe the teams strategy of losing games to gain high draft picks who could help them in the future.
That was great, Embiid said. Thats my motto Trust the Process.
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Last SlideNext SlideEmbiid didnt have much problem offensively or defensively in his first regular season game since March 1, 2014 when he sustained a back injury during his freshman season at the University of Kansas. That June, he underwent surgery on his right foot. He had another operation on the same foot last August.
And so, its understandable that the 76ers are proceeding with caution. During the preseason, Embiid averaged 11.4 points and 6.0 rebounds in only 14.7 minutes per game. For now, the 76ers are restricting Embiid to 20 minutes per game in five, four-minute segments. They are also working with him on his footwork and his strength in the post.
We talked a lot about just trying to play slower, 76ers coach Brett Brown said. He thinks quick. His feet sometimes cant catch up with his mind. Hes in sort of real time where he can slow down a little bit. I hope that he did do that. He made some plays, and all of a sudden he really didnt look that nervous.
No, he didnt. He played like an NBA veteran, although he understands theres more to learn. Hes been a student of the game since he took up basketball after playing soccer and volleyball as a kid.
Justin Harden, Embiids high school coach at the Rock School in Gainesville, Florida, remembers Embiid watching DVDs and YouTube videos of NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. Like Embiid, Olajuwon grew up in Africa and didnt start playing basketball until later in life.
I dont know if h**l ever be Hakeem Olajuwon, Harden told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday night. Thats a big, tall task for any person to try to live up to. But I think h**l have a good, solid career.
USA TODAY Sports" Michael Singer gives us three rookies to keep an eye on with 76ers" Ben Simmons sidelined to start the season. USA TODAY Sports
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/76ers/2016/10/27/joel-embiid-brett-brown-76ers/92821514/
