Joel Embiid is a mesmerizing talent on an NBA court and a constant source of entertainment, personality and humor off of it. The rookie of the year (let’s just crown him now) is leading the 76ers in points, rebounds and blocks and his stats per 36 minutes are mind-numbing for a rookie: 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 2.9 assists.
He could be the best center in the NBA in the next couple years and is on the short list of young players you would want to build your franchise around along with Karl-Anthony Towns, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kristaps Porzingis. He also is, by far, the most social media active and personality-filled young star of the bunch. He is like a young Shaq with his outspokenness and propensity for tweeting his love to famous women such as Rihanna and Kim Kardashian.
He nicknamed himself (is that allowed?) “The Process” as a reference to former 76ers GM Sam Hinkie’s infamous phrase about the organizations shameless tanking in recent years.
He was on The Dan Patrick Show Thursday morning and was asked if he had another nick name at any point in his life or playing career besides “The Process” which led to an incredible (and mostly believable) story about his humble upbringings growing up in the Cameroon. While living there he entered the jungle alone and killed a Lion at the age of six. Yes you read that correctly. Apparently Embiid became a man at the age of six by killing a lion and was known growing up and by his teammates at Kansas as the “Lion Killer”.
Please take some time to listen to the full one minute and 48 second clip of this harrowing tale on The Dan Patrick Show:
It appears as though Embiid has been the king of the jungle for some time and is quickly becoming the king of Philadelphia as well.
