Joel Embiid says wear a mask, Philadelphia 76ers fans.
Joel Embiid is one of the greatest showmen in Philadelphia 76ers history – and maybe in the NBA period.
Not since the days of Shaq and Barkley have basketball fans been treated to such consistently entertaining activities by a boisterous big man both on and off the court, and for a good reason. Embiid is a bully in the paint, has a serviceable 3 point shot for a player his size, and seemingly always finds a way to keep Philly fans engaged with his ‘all-out-on-every-play’ style of play.
So naturally, when Embiid arrives at the airport for the team’s private jet ride to the new NBA Bubble in Orlando Florida, it’s going to draw a ton of attention – and laughs – from everyone who happens upon the admittedly entertaining picture; a picture you can check out below (or the video here).
Joel Embiid taking off in Philly ✈️ for Orlando, is dressed for bubble
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) July 9, 2020
Wearing a Tyvek suit, mask, gloves#Sixers pic.twitter.com/tSPKSwusrk
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Man, John Clark always seems to be at the right place at the right time when airports are concerned.
Naturally, this picture is going to get a ton of attention. Heck, it’s the number two trending topic on the official Section 215 Twitter account with over 8,533 tweets on the topic in the last hour. That being said, I don’t think Embiid wore a hazmat suit, mask, and gloves to the airport for a private flight solely for the lols. No, I think the Sixers’ trice times All-Star center is being overly cautious because he is genuinely afraid of getting sick, both for his and the team’s sake.
And understandably so.
Regardless of your personal feelings on the matter, it’s clear Embiid is taking the threat of contracting and spreading the virus incredibly seriously. He – like his current and former teammates Josh Richardson, J.J. Redick, and Shake Milton – has already expressed doubts over the idea of forcing several hundred people into the Happiest Place on Earth to play basketball. Then again, in the very same interview, Embiid also said he’d not only participate but be willing to put the team on his back as the offensive focal point in a genuine effort to not let his teammates, fans, and the City of Brotherly Love down.
Are the Philadelphia 76ers paying Embiid handsomely for his efforts? Most certainly so, but that doesn’t mean his willingness to quite literally put his health and happiness on the line is any less admirable.
Sidebar: Did you notice a laughing, noticeably maskless Kyle O’Quinn in the back of John Clark’s picture? Maybe Embiid’s level of caution is perfectly sound.
When Joel Embiid does anything, from getting his driver’s license to jogging down Philly streets Rocky-style, it’s going to make at least a little bit of news. With that in mind, it’s hard to look at Embiid’s choice of airport attire as just an overly cautious big man worried about catching a virus from a teammate. No, to me at least, this outfit is meant to serve as a reminder to fans, pundits, and writers alike that these players are leaving behind their loved ones to enter a questionably safe environment to play a game for our amusement. Am I jazzed to see the Philadelphia 76ers play again? Of course, but at the same time, this season may ultimately have an asterisk next to it for a very different reason than it’s an unusual path to the playoffs.