Joel Embiid debuts his mask and it’s spectacular
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has debuted the protective mask he will wear in the playoffs while recovering from a fractured orbital bone.
While the Philadelphia 76ers head to Atlanta on Tuesday night to try and lock down the three-seed in the Eastern Conference, All-Star center Joel Embiid took to his Instagram story to debut the mask that will haunt the dreams of his opponents during the postseason. Embiid was cleared to begin doing light cardio exercise and shooting this weekend, but his return date for the playoffs is still up in the air.
What’s no longer up in the air is the fact that Embiid will be wearing a mask that perfectly matches his own interesting personality. We’ve seen the clear and black masks rocked by stars like Richard Hamilton, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James have worn in the past. This is something completely different.
It’s hard to put a finger on what it is that sets this Embiid mask apart from the typical masks frequently worn by NBA players. The color is reminiscent of a clay mask worn by pore-conscious individuals all over the globe, but combined with the waxiness of the hand molds for sale at a low-budget street fair. It’s just much closer to the color of the masks that scream “Serial Killer” than we’ve seen before.
Maybe it’s just the way Embiid casually poses with it, eyes peering out like Hannibal Lecter
Masked Embiid has arrived 😂 pic.twitter.com/N305HLD5At
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 11, 2018
Whether he’s dunking on the court or on social media, the wins just keep on coming for Embiid. Let’s all cross our fingers and hope the mask he’s showing off is the finished product and not just a preliminary mold that will be finished in matte black. As if he wasn’t terrifying enough on his own.
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A return for Game 1 of the playoffs is still a longshot for Embiid according to Sixers coach Brett Brown, but he will likely be back before the end of the first round. If the preview is to be believed, it will be a spectacular masked man in the middle returning to lead the Sixers.