Sixers

Joel Embiid Tells SI.com He Almost Quit Basketball Over SI.com Hit Piece

By Kyle Scott

Published: Oct 26th, 2016 · 12:30 PM EDT

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Joel Embiid told Lee Jenkins of SI.com’s The Crossover in an excellent profile today that he almost quit basketball over a hit piece from SI.com’s The Cauldron:

Last October, the day before the first anniversary of Arthur’s death, The Cauldron ran a distressing story about Embiid’s arduous rehab. Ensuing headlines focused on his exaggerated affection for Shirley Temples. You’d have thought he was chugging Moonshine laced with grenadine. Upset by both timing and content, Embiid considered quitting the NBA and returning to Cameroon, where he could honor his brother in peace. Maybe he’d go back to volleyball, his first chosen sport. His father had warned him about the dangers of hoops.

Phew. I can only imagine the anti-Hinkie takes had Embiid pulled a Steve Nebraska on everyone. Luckily, he continued to TRUST THE PROCESS HEYYYYYYYYO.

Jenkins’ profile of Embiid is otherwise excellent and a must-read, and it includes the fascinating anecdote that Embiid learned to shoot from watching white people, which you can apparently do online:

He is engaging, charismatic and funny, but unlike many foreign big men, his humor is intentional. “You know how I learned to shoot?” Embiid says. “I watched white people. Just regular white people. They really put their elbow in and finish up top. You can find videos of them online.”

I found one:

Read the full thing here.