There is one particular thing not many know about Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t had quite the season they might have expected. They are sitting No. 11 in the Eastern Conference with a 15-26 record.
This past offseason, the club brought in Paul George in free agency to pair alongside Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. The aforementioned trio has struggled to remain healthy and on the hardwood together, which many could have predicted before the season began.
With George and Embiid aging and struggling with availability, the 76ers’ future with this core is quite questionable — though there is one thing that many don’t know about one of the two superstars.
Many have been through the 76ers’ organization during their current run built around Embiid — which is no surprise as the club has been attempting to make a deep playoff run. While they’ve been unable, one player has made it to Philadelphia on two occasions.
Having played alongside Embiid twice at the same position, Andre Drummond has gotten a close look at his process and how he works behind the scenes. In a recent episode of “Podcast P,” Drummond gave a behind-the-scenes look at Embiid.
“I played with Joel twice now. First time I played with him was 21, 20, well, 22 I got traded that Ben Simmons trade and then back again now this year,” Drummond explained.
“Joel has been the same guy, he works hard, he works very hard, when he’s able and capable of playing, he’s one of the most hardworking people. He does the necessary things he needs to, to get his body right when it’s time to play.
“Some of these things are outta his control. So he tries to do the best that he can when he can. But the media’s the media, they’re always gonna have a story, and no one really knows the work that he puts in to get right.”
There is constant ridicule for Embiid and how he takes care of his body. Since he’s constantly injured and off the floor, fans tend to believe the 7-footer doesn’t work all that hard on a return to play or to take care of his body. Drummond, who has an up-close look, is squashing those rumors.
As mentioned, George joined the club this offseason. Prior to being on the team, he had only seen Embiid from a distance. From there, he was aware of the on-floor capabilities. There’s a reason Embiid was an MVP winner. He’s superb when healthy.
After seeing his training up close and sharing the floor with him as a teammate — George now thinks even more of Embiid and how skilled he is and how effortlessly he plays.
“Obviously I knew how good he was coming over here, but just impressed with how skilled he really is when you actually get to see him up close and you see him in practice, he’s effortless, it’s effortless,” George claimed. “He’s really a guard in a big man’s body, he has the footwork.”
George and Embiid both have supreme talent. That much isn’t the issue. Now, finding their form and remaining healthy alongside one another will define how their era of playing alongside one another goes.
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