We See Joel Embiid Now, Too

MOC on the very personal reaction he had to the most revealing profile of Joel Embiid's career.

Man, that was a heavy one. I went into Wednesday morning thinking that I knew just about everything there is to know about Joel Embiid. And yet, I still came out of that ESPN feature piece by Dotun Akintoye feeling emotionally exhausted. Embiid and his journey are so deep and so layered that even for me, as someone who has followed him closely for over 10 years, I felt overwhelmed reading it all.

Strangely, I found myself thinking about Allen Iverson at many points throughout the article. Embiid and Iverson are very different people, but they remind me very much of one another in a key way: they are extremely, profoundly human. You will find out things about both of those men that you think are major flaws, and then you keep digging and somehow feel even more charmed by them. You’ll see a jaded edge to their character that somehow makes them simultaneously difficult and great. You’ll hear about a seemingly unprovoked transgression that you think says something negative about them, but in fact serves as an effective self-protection mechanism, stemming from an unchosen wound from their past. Every time you think they are one thing, you’ll keep observing and find out they are in fact another.

My entire lifetime of Sixers fandom has been plagued by disappointment in terms of accomplishment, but I have to say that I do really feel lucky to have had the chance to follow two superstars so fascinating and enigmatic. They are flawed, yes, but many of their flaws just make for a more intimate connection with the fans. They are both tragic heroes in many ways.

That’s why, despite it being predictable, I was disappointed to see so many people turn this article into mere ammo for their agenda wars. If you went into this article just looking to clip out a few anecdotes and say “I told you so” about Embiid as a basketball player – for or against – I think you’re missing the point. This was a window into the human side of a guy with a journey unlike anyone else’s on the planet. It was about more than just his basketball legacy. It was about his humanity.

The thing that the article really crystallized for me was how chaotic, isolating, and overwhelming Embiid’s entire journey has been from the age of 15. I mean, he:

• Was suddenly regarded as a teenage basketball phenom overnight (so quickly that he couldn’t be sure he was actually good)

• Moved to another country alone

• Suffered a catastrophic injury that wouldn’t heal

• Was written off by his own team

• Tragically lost his brother

• Came back and became one of the greatest players to ever play

• Suffered another round of catastrophic injuries just as he was hitting his peak as a player

The article, unlike how some have characterized it, is not some flattering puff piece that goes through making excuses for Embiid. Even if you hadn’t known who Embiid was prior to reading that article, you would be able to read that article and find out the reasons why he has experienced many failures in his career, beyond just injury luck.

I’ve been someone who has shared a fair share of critiques of Embiid over the past few years (albeit with plenty of positive things, too), and I wouldn’t say that the article made me want to eat my words. But what I will say is that it made me understand. I understand why he wasn’t a vocal locker room leader. I understand why he’s shut off and distant from some members of the organization. I understand why he’s distrustful of everyone around him – he’s been proven right to feel that way, even if it has also hurt him in certain areas. I understand why he doesn’t insert himself into front office decisions. I understand how he got to the point where he feels like he can or should be late or absent to team events. Even though there are valid critiques for all of this behavior, and even if one could easily make the case that all of these things are the reasons he hasn’t accomplished as much as he could have, I just want to say that I understand. I get it. I empathize. And I still like and respect Joel as a person.

So... Is the Sixers' Off-Season Over?

No one is fully equipped to deal with the life that Joel Embiid has had – both the challenges and the privileges. This article was an exploration of the coping mechanisms Joel used to get through it, and how those behaviors have been both effective and limiting for him later on in his career. Irrespective of whether you like or dislike him, or where you rank him as a player, I think that this article is just meant to help you understand. We frankly don’t get enough of that in today’s media ecosystem – content that somehow makes you see the athlete as less of a caricature and more of a human.

The last thing I’ll add here is that it really is rare for us to get this type of profile while someone’s career is still going on. The article didn’t reveal much into Embiid and the team’s outlook on his health beyond just general hope, but I did leave the piece thinking, “Man, if he ever does get healthy, figure some things out mentally, and lead the Sixers to a title, it would be one of the greatest sports stories ever.”

While the article gave a terrific picture of how Joel got to the point he’s at now, it also highlights how the future is a complete unknown. This might be it – he might never get healthy. But if he does, and he leads the team to the mountaintop, there really are no words to describe what a crazy, inspirational, story that will be, despite some of the chapters being very unpleasant. Joel often says that his life and career is like a movie; this article made me hope even more that there’s a happy ending.

---

Mike O’Connor is the best O’Connor in basketball writing. Previously of The Athletic, you can find Mike on Twitter @MOConnor_NBA. Mike’s writing is brought to you by Body Bio, supplements based on science, focusing on your gut and brain health.