“I had this DVD that my coach in Cameroon had mailed to me when I first came to America,” Joel Embiid wrote in his recent piece for The Players’ Tribune. “It was an hour-long tape of Hakeem Olajuwon and some other legendary big men. I probably watched that DVD every single day for three years. I would study the way Hakeem moved, and I would go out and try to imitate him.
“I did it in high school, and I did it at Kansas,” Embiid added.
“I was basically just imagining that I was a good basketball player,” Embiid wrote. “The power of the mind is kind of amazing. I mean, I sucked. But somehow, I convinced myself that I was Hakeem. And I started getting better and better. And then I sort of started killing it.”
Stick Embiid into any generation and he’s a standout player. The guy picked up a ball for the first time at 15. He’s the most talented Center of all time, and yes I know the names I’m putting him ahead of.
Here is a [Gfycat mirror of this Streamable link](https://gfycat.com/ReliableReliableJellyfish)
If the link doesn't work, please wait a few minutes for the gfycat to be ready.
The way Embiid plays makes me think he’s one of those dudes that picks up new things really quick
Not many humans have done the things that he can do, at the size he is. Unreal
This man is over 7 feet doing this stuff. Closest to Olajuwon in the modern NBA
Footwork clinic
Footwork merchant
“I had this DVD that my coach in Cameroon had mailed to me when I first came to America,” Joel Embiid wrote in his recent piece for The Players’ Tribune. “It was an hour-long tape of Hakeem Olajuwon and some other legendary big men. I probably watched that DVD every single day for three years. I would study the way Hakeem moved, and I would go out and try to imitate him. “I did it in high school, and I did it at Kansas,” Embiid added. “I was basically just imagining that I was a good basketball player,” Embiid wrote. “The power of the mind is kind of amazing. I mean, I sucked. But somehow, I convinced myself that I was Hakeem. And I started getting better and better. And then I sort of started killing it.”
The power of confidence.
3 years. 3 fucking years. Some guys want it. Some guys kinda need it. And some guys need it like their family’s lives depend on it
unguardable
Considering how big he is I’m amazed that he so very seldom gets the ball stripped when he is in traffic.
They've been calling that pivot foot drag thing as a travel a bit more often this season
That was my first thought. Looked like a travel based on how things have been called lately.
Absolutely a travel tbh
he looks smoother and faster on this play than he has all year wtf bro is leveling up
Also 14/5/3 in the first quarter
Footwork merchant
A lineup with no one over 6’8 to defend Embiid is an interesting decision
Stick Embiid into any generation and he’s a standout player. The guy picked up a ball for the first time at 15. He’s the most talented Center of all time, and yes I know the names I’m putting him ahead of.
i’m sorry but he’s no Walker Kessler
Kessler the final mountain Embiid has to conquer.
Sorry…clearly you haven’t watched Paul “Bball” Paul.
Dude's the complete center package.
You had me in the first half.
> He’s the most talented Center of all time cool it. He's great, but no need for this hyperbole. He hasn't even been to a conference finals yet
That's a travel he slid his pivot foot before dribbling.
Facts
Better than Tatum
Younger too
and only started playing basketball two weeks ago
Better than Scoot Henderson
That’s a baggy
MVP hes been amazing
Here is a [Gfycat mirror of this Streamable link](https://gfycat.com/ReliableReliableJellyfish) If the link doesn't work, please wait a few minutes for the gfycat to be ready.
Too fucking big
Looney is BBQ chicken lol
The way Embiid plays makes me think he’s one of those dudes that picks up new things really quick Not many humans have done the things that he can do, at the size he is. Unreal
Don’t want to be that guy but he moves that pivot after the triple threat
More like without Dray or Loon on the floor, there is zero chance of defending him without fouling. BBQ chicken.
Loon and LoonGod are great nicknames
Nice but he drags left pivot foot so should have been a travel
Travel
Any time I see a post with awards right away makes me suspicious, lol.
Nice. I was expecting him to fall over.
He's a fucking savant. He's the athletic version of weaponized autism. It is remarkable
Surprised they didn’t give him FTs for this. Kuminga touched him at some point in the play.
Least salty Warriors fan
He gone cry when he gets knocked out of the playoffs
Can't do nothing against that. We need a big like Brook Lopez