For Philadelphia 76ers rising star center Joel Embiid, The Process is an ongoing thing and it will never stop. On top of that, neither will his trash talking because it's a way of life for the 23-year-old. In an interview with TNT analyst David Aldridge that was posted to the NBA's official website on Monday, Embiid discussed why his trash talking plays such a large role in his game.
“I don’t know, it’s just in my nature. I love competing,” Embiid said. “I mean, if you ask anybody around me, my coaches, they know I love competing. I hate losing. So because I love competing and I hate losing, it just, I don’t know, for somebody to actually trash talk with me, it’s all about my game. Because I know I’m unguardable. It just takes my game to the next level, and I feel like most nights I need it, or it’s just going to be a lazy night or sleepy night. So I actually kind of need it.”
As far as getting into it with other players on both the court and social media, it's no secret that Embiid definitely knows how to get into the heads of his competitors.
Article Continues Below“If I play against you the first time and you want to be all physical and just talk, or talking trash or whatever, it just gets me going,” Embiid said of opposing centers. “It makes me want to kick your ass so I can go on social media and literally trash you on there.”
Embiid, who models his game after Houston Rockets legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon, wants to be known as the first Embiid rather than the second coming of Olajuwon.
“As far as, just like an overall game, I want to [have] one of the most, if not the most complete player ever. Defensively, offensively, just be a playmaker when I want to, score when I want to. Just a leader and defensively, be the best defensively player in the world,” Embiid said.
After the Sixers' heartbreaking 107-104 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center, Embiid has been held out of two straight games in which Philadelphia has lost due to some tightness in his back. In 21 starts this season for the Sixers, Embiid is currently averaging 23.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game in 30.2 minutes.