Fansided

10 reasons we’re thankful the NBA is back

By Joshua Axelrod

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Tyson Chandler #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers after he blocked the final shot of the game by Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks to win the the game at Staples Center on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Tyson Chandler #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers after he blocked the final shot of the game by Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks to win the the game at Staples Center on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY — NOVEMBER 04: Joel Embiid #21 and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers react during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 04, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY — NOVEMBER 04: Joel Embiid #21 and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers react during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 04, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /

7. Joel Embiid’s social media presence

Joel Embiid is really, really funny. He’s a natural goofball who is willing to (metaphorically) shoot his shot no matter the situation. We should all be grateful for the fact he’s liable to broadcast his every thought on social media, most of which are gems that should be preserved in the Louvre for generations to come.

Most people were first tuned into Embiid’s Twitter dominance when he asked Rihanna out via tweet and then continued to “pursue” her long after she had ignored his initial offer. It takes a special level of moxie for an NBA superstar to ask a pop star out that publicly, and an even greater amount of hubris to keep the bit up for as long as he did. It was fantastic stuff.

Recently, Embiid went on Twitter in order to pay rent on his time share in Detroit Pistons forward Andre Drummond’s head.

It’s one thing to semi-facetiously ask Rihanna out on social media, and another thing entirely to trash talk your next opponent in such an overt manner. At least he was able to back it up, as the Sixers beat the Pistons 109-99. More importantly, that tweet inspired this great piece on The Ringer about the other pieces of real estate Embiid owns in other NBA players’ heads.

As Embiid himself put it recently, he’s just a guy who believes life is fun and wants to make the most of it. Ironically, that’s about to become much more difficult given a major trade the Sixers just made that could potentially affect both the Eastern Conference playoff picture and Embiid’s (and the rest of the Sixers’) mental health.

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