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Joel Embiid might be the most intriguing talent on the Sixers roster, but health problems put his career in jeopardy. Even with his debut seemingly on the horizon, doubts have persisted about whether he’d be ready to go or not. Seeing is believing, after all.
If you take him at his word, Embiid will be arrive on the scene in just eight days. Embiid confirmed to reporters at Sixers Media Day he expects to suit up for the preseason opener against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, October 4.
In the midst of doing so, Embiid made sure to shout out some of the key figures (and slogans) that helped him reach this point:
Embiid praises the support he's had since entering the NBA, specifically calling out former GM Sam Hinkie and head coach Brett Brown.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 26, 2016
Joel Embiid: "You've got to trust the process."
— max (@MaxRappaport) September 26, 2016
Embiid mentions DeAndre Jordan when talking about how he wants to impact the game defensively. Stresses communication.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 26, 2016
Not everything in his past is viewed with rose-colored glasses. Despite revealing he almost stayed in Kansas for a second college season, Embiid doesn’t hold a lot of reverence for hoops on the amateur circuit:
Joel Embiid says he can't watch college hoops anymore: "Since I've been in the league, I think they don't know how to play."
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) September 26, 2016
Despite the task ahead of him and the injury woes behind him, Embiid also isn’t short on ambition:
Joel Embiid: "I'm going to have a 20-year career"
— max (@MaxRappaport) September 26, 2016
Embiid’s Sixers debut is finally, mercifully almost here. You can almost exhale now.