Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid is not the only “Process” in Philly
Joel Embiid may have nicknamed himself The Process, but argument can be made that another Philadelphia 76ers player is just as worthy of the title
Never in my life did I think the nickname of a player could encapsulate so poetically the storyline of an organization over a multi-year window. Admittedly, when Philadelphia 76ers announcer Matt Cord belts “Joel ‘The Process’ Embiid” over the intercom, I get chills.
Big time.
But it seems as if the switch from the Sixers team being referred to as a “process” to Joel Embiid becoming “The Process” occurred instantaneously. That’s understandable, however, as Embiid is an all-star (trending toward superstar) talent.
But, in that seamless transition from team process to player process, I believe one Sixer got left in the fray: Robert Covington.
A legitimate argument can be made that Covington could just as well deserve to be called “The Process.”
It’s Roots
Merriam-Webster has a litany of definitions for “process,” with one of them being, “a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result: the process of growth.”
To me, the word gradual in this definition implies a significant time period. In other words, a process can’t happen overnight. It takes time. Patience. Trust.
Both Embiid and Covington’s processes, although not similar, were gradual and took a decent amount of time. The big man and his wingman counterpart are the only two current Sixer players listed on the team’s 2014-15 roster, although Embiid obviously didn’t play that season.
The difference between Embiid’s process and Covington’s process lies in their realm of existence. Embiid’s process, in my opinion, was one labored in health, while Covington’s was one fixated on the development of skill.
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Because Embiid was drafted so high, his skillset was never in question. The former Kansas Jayhawk came with all the hype and expectation a top draft pick is expected to harbor. His only lingering question was his health.
Covington is the exact opposite. The 6-foot-9 forward has not missed much time as a member of the Sixers, playing at least 67 games in each of his first three seasons in Philly, according to ESPN stats. His lingering question, oddly enough, was if he had NBA talent. Covington faced the same long shot odds that all D-Leaguers (now G-Leaguers) face when called up to an NBA roster.
But, as the definition of “process” suggests, there is a particular result that is part of the equation. For Embiid, all anybody surrounding the Sixers wanted was for him to see the floor. For Covington, the Sixers circle wished to see him develop an NBA skill set.
It’s Destination
The definition of a process is incomplete without a particular result.
For example, nobody would chant “the process” at Embiid if he were to never see NBA action. If anything, echoes of former Ohio State star and NBA short-comer Greg Oden would haunt Embiid’s existence.
Or, on the other hand, if Covington never developed into the two way starting forward he has become, chances are the Sixers would have let him go, as they have done with the majority of players that cycled through the rosters of prior losing seasons.
Covington’s particular result to be a contributor to a Sixers future roster has been achieved beyond expectation. Covington, however, is more than a contributor: he is a starter and a leader on this team. Embiid’s particular result of being able to heal up and compete for the Sixers has been achieved as well, but he still faces the obstacle of playing back-to-backs.
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It’s funny to think that Covington may be farther along in his own process than Embiid is in his. Nonetheless, both players have assuredly passed the point of doubt that is inherent in any process: not all processes are bound to succeed.
Because we live in such a results-driven society, it’s easy to see why Joel Embiid gets the nickname “The Process.” Embiid is the face of the Sixers franchise and his highlights, twitter wars, and comical interviews are constantly broadcasted.
Still, give me the time of day and repeat after me: Robert “The Process” Covington.
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It may not stick, but that doesn’t mean it’s undeserving.