When ESPN announced young Philadelphia star Joel Embiid would appear on “First Take,” one had to hope it would mean a one-on-one debate between the charismatic big man and the daily morning show’s rambunctious personality, Stephen A. Smith.
Instead, on Friday’s episode, Smith simply fired questions that Embiid answered. No impassioned arguments. No chances for “Tro-el” Embiid to roast the polarizing sports TV debater.
Sill, the segment provided the 23-year-old face of the 76ers to talk a big game, as he is accustomed to doing.
Smith asked Embiid whether he agrees with assessments from those observers who consider him the best big man in the NBA. Of course, the second-year center from Kansas agreed.
> “Yeah, definitely. Especially when you
> look at the way I play the game,” said
> Embiid, averaging 23.7 points, 11.1
> rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 blocks
> entering Friday night’s game versus
> Oklahoma City. “I mean, I feel like
> offensively I can do everything — be a
> play-maker, score the ball, set up my
> teammates. And defensively, I feel
> like I’m the best defensive player in
> the league. So I just try to do my
> job, and then at the end of the day
> it’s all about winning. As long as we
> win games I think it helps me.”
The Sixers (14-13) have created buzz throughout the season’s first couple of months, with Embiid and rookie Ben Simmons forming an intriguing one-two punch.
When Embiid thinks about teaming with the 21-year-old, 6-10 point guard from Australia for years to come, he envisions greatness.
> “Obviously it’s going to take a lot of
> growing pains and a lot of learning to
> do, and I think we’ve been doing a
> great job as far as learning how to
> play with each other,” Embiid said.
> “But I think we have the potential to
> be like one of the most dominant duos
> ever. So we’ve just got to keep
> working together. We’re both so young,
> and I love playing with him — I’m sure
> he loves playing with me, too — so I
> think we have great potential.”
Off the court, Embiid has picked up fans, as well, thanks to his sense of humor. Smith, naturally, had to ask about Embiid’s social media interactions with various opponents.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcqi9bdl0-z/
> “First of all, I don’t ever start
> things,” Embiid said. “People might
> not know that. It may start in a game
> with guys being extra-physical and
> just talking. I’m just going with the
> flow. I’m like, ‘Oh, you want to talk?
> You want to talk —? Well, I’m gonna
> kick your –.’ I mean, I never start
> things. … If you want those problems,
> that’s your fault.”
That prompted Smith to pitch a slogan for Embiid: “How do y’all like this? You start problems with The Process, The Process is gonna handle you.”
The big man’s assessment allowed him to clown Smith the way he might an opposing center:
> “Umm… I liked that, but I think we can
> do much better than that.”
*- Watch a portion of Embiid’s “First Take” interview below.*
