Why Joel Embiid's commitment to win in Philadelphia matters to 76ers fans

I clearly remember the hype around Joel Embiid's debut with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 2023 MVP was entering an NBA court after two years away from action due to injury and the Cameroonian started the game slow, but eventually went for 20 points in 22 minutes. He made his debut against the OKC Thunder on October 26, 2016, and scored his first bucket with a turnaround jumper over defensive specialist Andre Roberson.

On Friday, Embiid signed an extension, which will keep him in Philadelphia until his late 30s. The 2023 MVP has made huge strides since his first game in the NBA. Embiid's presence created hope in Philadelphia, but the excitement was gradually replaced by demand for an NBA title, as the team sits amidst a 41-year drought. The last time Philadelphia experienced the sweet sensation of playing in the NBA Finals was 22 years ago. Embiid vowed to become the player that will bring a title to the city, and his latest decision proves that he's committed to the promise he made.

The 76ers are getting fired up for a memorable season, and Embiid will need to lead them to the promise land. The 2023 MVP efforts to fulfill his promise were undermined by injuries, bad luck and lackluster roster decisions. Now, Embiid will have a great collection of talent surrounding him, and the only way that he can satisfy the fans and himself is by winning it all.

Joel Embiid represents everything the fans and the city wish for

The reason the 76ers remain committed to Joel Embiid has to do with his renowned winning mentality and his relentless pursuit of accomplishments. The superstar center is one of the few NBA stars that can lift the 76ers fan base expectations on his shoulders. He constantly communicates with them during the games, putting effort into every possession and demanding the attention.

Embiid was like that from the start, the face of the Process era, and the reason the Sixers' fans still hope that all the losing they endured between 2013 and 2016 would have an end goal somewhere down the road. He was the only superstar that opted to remain with the team and took the responsibility to become the franchise player. He even took on the role of carrying the weight of a not-so-popular term in the NBA during his rookie season, claiming that he in fact is “The Process” in an interview he gave to Sports Illustrated.

There's a huge advantage to having a superstar that wants to succeed with the team that selected him in the draft. Embiid was carefully preserved by Sam Hinkie and the 76ers front office for two seasons before letting him make his way to the NBA floor. Obviously, it was a frustrating process, but the fact that the franchise waited for Embiid to get well created a strong bond that still becomes stronger every year.

Joel Embiid has embraced the role of the savior in every chance and got comfortable with the fact that he might not be liked by other NBA fan bases. The Cameroonian only wanted to make the 76ers faithful happy. That's what drives him every season to play games even when he's clearly not at 100% health or even when his team is not at the same level as other title contenders. NBA superstars came and went during the past few years, however, Embiid was the only one to stay put, only thinking of ways to fulfill his destiny.

The Sixers superstar is a significant asset to the franchise, and he is expected to remain in the organization for the upcoming years. Last season, he led the club to a 31-8 record when he was on the floor, with the 76ers being on pace for a total of 65 wins for the season. During this brief stint, he had one of the most efficient stretches we have ever seen from an NBA player, but injuries cut a historic run short.

The past two dominant seasons that led to an MVP award and a brief but historic stint were fueled by the fact that he wants to win with the franchise. Embiid is eager to give back the love he received since he arrived in the “City of Brotherly Love”. The superstar center recently claimed that he's the most hated player in the NBA, still, in the Wells Fargo Center and for the city of Philadelphia, he's the most treasured person on this planet.