For the sixth chapter of their series The Moment, Champs Sports laced Joel Embiid in the adidas NMD RD1 and teamed him up with rapper Tory Lanez to help tell his story. And quite appropriately, Lanez used the opportunity to debut his new single “The Process.”
In an ode to former Sixers general manager Sam Hinikie’s rebuilding plan for the team, “The Process” has become a rallying cry in Philadelphia. Embiid has championed the cause through his effervescent play and amusing antics on social media. He has even adopted “The Process” as his nickname, a move that has endeared him even more to the Sixers faithful.
But while Sixers fans have embraced Embiid, he has also done the same. So much so that at times, Embiid seems to draw energy from Sixers fans, feeding off their cheers to dominate on the court.
“I can’t imagine this journey and my process without the support of the Philadelphia fan base behind me,” Embiid told Nice Kicks via email. “They have been and continue to be so supportive, trusting the process all along the way. Our team wants to work hard and win for them and as more wins pile up and we continue to succeed we know they’re having a great time along with us.”
The support Sixers fans have shown Embiid means so much to him because he sees himself in them. Like the city of Philadelphia, Embiid considers himself to be an underdog and ultra competitive.
“I think the people in Philadelphia are competitive, they love to win and they hate to lose. I share that,” Embiid says. “They root for the underdog –while I was hurt they wanted me to be healthy and succeed. They also love to have fun and enjoy the game. We share a lot of the same sensibilities which is why I love this city so much.”
Hear Embiid talk more about his love for Philadelphia and his journey to NBA from Yaoundé, Cameroon in “The Moment” below.
