NBA Monday Social: Joel Embiid does a cool thing
By Alex Mcewen
The NBA and its players continue to fight the good fight amid the pandemic. This past week Sixers star Joel Embiid did yet another cool thing.
NBA players do not need to step on the hardwood to create amazing highlights. Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid has now put the franchise back on stable ground twice in his still early career.
First, he revived the organization after Sam Hinkie’s process, transforming Philly into a perennial playoff team. His latest accomplishment is the biggest of them all. The 26-year-old has partnered with Penn Medicine to fund antibody testing for health care workers in the Philadelphia area.
This comes in the wake of Embiid advocating for Sixers ownership to revoke their plan to cut team employee’s salaries by 20 percent. During times of crisis, the world needs more people like Embiid, because his light is still shining bright during the current dark storm.
Bravo Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has partnered with Sixers owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer to establish a funding campaign for COVID-19 antibody testing for frontline healthcare workers through Penn Medicine, he told ESPN on Friday.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 3, 2020
It most certainly is
Time Is Precious❤️
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) March 30, 2020
It’s important to give it up to yourself
Give yourself some credit for days you made it when you thought you couldn’t!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 30, 2020
Enes Kanter makes a compelling point
https://twitter.com/EnesKanter/status/1244678126258606080?s=20
The world also needs more people like Shea Serrano
a woman paid me $1300 to do a 30-min Q&A with employees at her company
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) March 30, 2020
i greatly love money but my family and i are fine
who’s a fast food employee who needs me to pay their rent this month
send me a pic of you in your work shirt with your cashapp and i’ll give you the $1300
Basketball is (somewhat) back
Yahoo Sources: NBA to launch players-only NBA 2K Tournament scheduled for Friday and will be broadcast on major netowork. https://t.co/6m39JZETjx pic.twitter.com/a0apwYqDmQ
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) March 31, 2020
Time flies
https://twitter.com/isaiahthomas/status/1244798678025396225?s=20
Update from last week, Cheerio got a new name, or three
I shall return in the second half . In the meantime I will answer some questions. . The first half was a snooze fest anyway ... pictured below is my daughter Fiona . Aka Fifi aka mini lioness aka Lil mamaaaaa pic.twitter.com/IdLGZ6j7iG
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) March 31, 2020
Fun question alert
Rather than naming a player who you thought would make it but didn’t, name a player who you were sure would be an MVP and never really surpassed All-Star level.
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) March 31, 2020
Family, especially girls are great at stealing clothes
This quarantine has allowed me to see how many sweatshirts my mom and sister have stolen from my closet in the past 2 years😒😒😒😒
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) March 31, 2020
All people are crazy, but Twitter people are different
I concur
Golden State got outplayed in what, 15 out of 16 quarters in Games 1 through 4? It probably should've been a sweep. The answer is no. https://t.co/AD03ILLGsI
— Lior (@LiorKozai) March 31, 2020
Something to keep in mind
The Chinese Government issued a new order today restricting resumption of team sports, a heavy blow for pro basketball to return there soon as was planned. China's attempt to restart sports are being watched closely by leagues across the world. Huge issue is asymptomatic carriers
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) March 31, 2020
Let’s celebrate with #TacoTuesday
Per the Lakers, their players completed the 14-day home isolation prescribed by the team and all players are currently symptom-free of COVID-19.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 31, 2020
TikTok is strange
I just tried to do the savage tik tok and I just pretty much quit midway through
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) March 31, 2020
This would be fun
If the NBA somehow comes back in mid-June, I truly hope the Raptors consider bringing NBA basketball back to Buffalo, even if just temporarily https://t.co/TWJeggEYeo
— Josh Wilson (@J_WilsonSports) March 31, 2020
More positive news
On a conference call, Nets GM Sean Marks said the four players that tested positive for Covid-19 are now symptom-free. That includes team staff and the entire traveling party.
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) April 1, 2020
This would be next-level bad…
Silver linings
I finally found a benefit of the sportless world: Not having to see idiotic "Breaking: So and so tore his ACL" tweets and articles from "funny" people.
— Brady Klopfer (@BradyKlopferNBA) April 1, 2020
Ice Trae alert
Trae’s 50-piece was one to remember ❄️
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 1, 2020
Hawks vs. Heat - 8pm ET on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/Fg6Ghh3StJ
A man ahead of his time
Steve Nash was a 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard who mostly played before the offensive boom and ended with a career 60.5% TS. He had 12 seasons with TS% above 60 and in 2006-07, he was at 65.4% TS.
— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) April 1, 2020
That year, he shot 67% at the rim, 52% from midrange and 46% from 3.
This tweet is everything
Today marks the 100-year anniversary of when the NBA suspended the season on March 11th
— Duncan Smith (@DuncanSmithNBA) April 1, 2020
This is the definition of a pioneer
🗣KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR GOT THE DUNK BANNED IN COLLEGE BECAUSE HE WAS SCARING THE OTHER TEAMS. THATS WHY HE LEARNED THE SKYHOOK!!!!! PUT SOME RESPEK ON THAT MANS NAME.
— BEAN 🏁🏁🏁 (@MGRADS) April 1, 2020
Let’s remember another pioneer
Game 6 was also when this happened :) https://t.co/HJkZw0rYZ8 pic.twitter.com/RSAob4x6zS
— Kacy Sager (@THESagerbomb) April 1, 2020
This is pretty accurate
The entire month of March... 🥴 pic.twitter.com/Gb6036ZIFc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 1, 2020
Shaq had at least TWO moves
Oh no, it's not even 10AM and I just read an article asserting that Shaq "had basically one move."
— Brady Klopfer (@BradyKlopferNBA) April 2, 2020
Looks like April is gonna be as bad as March, everyone.
*The above tagline contains sarcasm
Steven Adams in the background is legendary
💙⚡️ Missing my Thunder fam! One month ago today — the entire organization volunteered at @infantcrisis #ThunderCares pic.twitter.com/evWejvMfAj
— Erin Oldfield (@erinoldfieldokc) April 2, 2020
T.T. speaks for The Land
In the words of Thunder analyst Michael Cage That’s a tough call
Outside of Kevin Durant, who's the most hated NBA player in Oklahoma City?
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) April 2, 2020
Indeed
Different. https://t.co/OyjIrHzCdP
— Lonzo Ball (@ZO2_) April 2, 2020
This is true
If LeBron flopped Game 6 in the Garden, following 2011, his legacy never recovers.
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) April 2, 2020
Autism Speaks
https://twitter.com/Joeingles7/status/1245555066230067200?s=20
Non-sports related, but still an important post
Kid’s are the best
5 years old daughter: “if by March next year we’re still at home, I’ok break the law! I’ll go to t he north pole, were Santa rules...maybe he doesn’t have ciovid and we can hang out”
— Michele Berra (@MikyBerra) April 3, 2020
Me: “I’ll drive you there”
It’s (technically) game day!
Why did I wake up feeling like it was a Game Day..??? Maybe cause it is... 🏀👀 #NBA2KTourney
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) April 3, 2020
Giannis doesn’t have access to a court
Asked on the Bucks conference call if players have access to any hoops. Giannis and Khris Middleton said they don't have hoops at home or any real access right now. Khris said he could maybe go to a neighbor's house to shoot outside, but he's mostly working out/dribbling at home.
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) April 3, 2020
The NBA’s link to the Tiger King
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-VkhHelGGd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Russell Westbrook or Chris Paul, and there’s still time
Any player. Any sport.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 3, 2020
Who most deserved a ring and never got one?
Game 6
Do you remember the first time sports made you cry?
— Brady Klopfer (@BradyKlopferNBA) April 3, 2020
Mine was 1998. I was an 8-year old in the backseat of the car. my mom handed me the sports section of the newspaper, as she always did when she grabbed the paper. I unfolded the paper and saw that Michael Jordan had retired.
Hey look, a basketball highlight!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-c9WLhD-2A/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Thank you, Gallo
Thank you so much for the donation @gallinari8888! With your help, we tested 400 Oklahomans. We are so grateful for our community members coming together to get through this 🙌@okcthunder #ActsofCaring #OKC #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/xdlTuFiRnu
— OCCHD (@okchealth) April 3, 2020
Hmm, this sounds very familiar…
Jordan left and the next season the Bulls won two fewer games, had three All-Stars, an MVP candidate and went to Game 7 of the eastern conference semi-finals. It happened, the Bulls were damn good even without Michael. You can't lie about it for weirdo fan reasons.
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) April 4, 2020
Dreams can always come true
Woke up feeling like I was living a dream that I hosted a 2K show on @ESPN last night. Remember coming home every day in elementary school & watching greats like Stuart Scott on @SportsCenter. I‘ll strive to get better so I can walk in your great footsteps. Thanks for support!
— Ronnie 2K 2K24 (@Ronnie2K) April 4, 2020
Gone, but never forgotten
Watching the replay of Celtics-Lakers from ‘10, and saw this.
— Dominic (@dominichoscher) April 5, 2020
Kobe and Gigi Bryant, Stuart Scott, and David Stern all sharing a stage together, all gone too soon. pic.twitter.com/h8g1foOhus
Taking everything, day-by-day everyday
How’s everyone? We staying strong?
— Paul George (@Yg_Trece) April 5, 2020
#EatLocal
Pdx where should I grab take out from tonight. Tryna support local businesses on the weekends. Shoot me all ya spots and I’ll make a list and hit them up randomly
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) April 5, 2020
This legend would know
NBA TV just replayed Clippers thrilling game 7 win over defending champion Spurs in 2015. Maybe greatest game in LAC history. Score was tied 13-times in the 4th Q. Wow! CP3 playing on one leg made the wild game-winner !!!
— Ralph Lawler (@Ohmeomy) April 5, 2020
Strong relationships are built on a foundation of honesty
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-lHv0yJU9K/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Super Cheryl
My wife of nearly 38 years—Cheryl Ann— has incredible sewing skills. Has machines and computer programs I don’t understand. Makes lots of adorable outfits for the grandkids. But this is her finest work yet. Her first batch of medical masks with many many many more to come pic.twitter.com/sigknxj7aZ
— Ernie Johnson (@TurnerSportsEJ) April 1, 2020
In this column we end it on a high note, it is rare for that post to not come from a player or team account. With that said, what beloved Turner Sports host of NBA on TNT Ernie Johnson shared with his Twitter timeline fit the bill perfectly. Johnson gushed over the 22 face masks his wife Cheryl Ann handmade.
NBA: Grading would-be playoff teams in the Western Conference. dark. Next
To that end, I’ll leave you with this; if you are bored in the house or in the house bored. Just stop right now. Be like Cheryl and make some masks. Do not use the excuse “oh I don’t know how to sew” there has never been a better reason or time to learn!