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Sixers big man Joel Embiid's road to the NBA has been well storied, but the route he took to become a 3-point shooting big man is one anecdote worth listening to. The Philadelphia 76ers center was brutally honest (as usual) in a self-written piece on The Players' Tribune.
The Process opened up about his process of becoming an NBA player — noticing how he needed to become a reliable shooter in order to crack the league.
Article Continues Below“So I’m chilling one night, and I go on YouTube, and I’m thinking I’m about to figure this shooting thing out,” said Embiid. “I go to the search box like…. HOW TO SHOOT 3 POINTERS. Nah. HOW TO SHOOT GOOD FORM. Nah. Then the light bulb went off, man. I typed in the magic words. WHITE PEOPLE SHOOTING 3 POINTERS.”
“Listen, I know it’s a stereotype, but have you ever seen a normal, 30-year-old white guy shoot a three-pointer? That elbow is tucked, man. The knees are bent. The follow-through is perfect. Always. You know how in America, there’s always an older guy wearing like EVERLAST sweat-shorts at the court? That guy is always a problem. His J is always wet.”
This is seriously how Joel Embiid learned to shoot threes, and if a respectable 36.7 percent in his rookie season is any sign — we can say he learned from the best.
Embiid is one of many who have learned to shoot based on the countless YouTube videos teaching proper form, balance, stance, propulsion, and release.
Perhaps his willingness to seek help for himself shows a lot more than his recent 30.8 percent from deep this past season — showing he's a self-starter with the determination to better himself — a trait that likely won't abandon him throughout the course of his career.
