NBA Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid’s Weight Gain Is A Cause For Concern

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By @Greg_Sacidor

Bill STreicher - USA TODAY Sports

Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports

With age usually comes maturity, but as Joel Embiid is about to find out, the NBA requires its players to become more mature more quickly.

Despite not playing in a single game thus far this season, Embiid has already become a fan favorite. Despite not yet being able to speak to reporters, Embiid has used social media sites such as Twitter and Instagram — like a typical 20 year old — to show off his unique personality. From asking celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Rihanna out on a date, to (unsuccessfully) recruiting LeBron James to bring his talents to the Philadelphia 76ers, Embiid has been able to to endear himself to the fans on his own terms.

Despite many enjoying it, some viewed Embiid’s social media presence as a bit immature. However, the critics who said Embiid should dedicate as much time to rehabbing his injuries as he does to playing around on social media were quickly ostracized. Instead, many wrote off Embiid’s social media presence as just the natural immaturity of a 20-year-old kid.

Well, the “natural immaturity of a 20-year-old kid” seems to be a problem for Embiid. According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Embiid has ballooned up to almost 300 pounds. During his one and only season at the University of Kansas last year, Embiid weighed 250 pounds. Pompey adds that some within the 76ers’ organization have even begun to question Embiid’s work ethic. This stems from Embiid reportedly “not always being a willing workout participant,” “blowing off conditioning drills” and having a blowup with the team’s assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Entering the 2014 NBA Draft, Embiid was nothing but a gigantic question mark. Of course, playing only one season at Kansas contributed to this, but most of the questions revolved around his pre-draft back injury – which kept him out of the Big 12 Conference and NCAA tournament — and foot injury.

The added weight should not cause a ton of concern within the 76ers’ organization. After all, it is hard for Embiid to do a ton of rehabilitation work for his injured foot that does not revolve around working out on an anti-gravity machine. Also, the more time he spends around a professional organization, the better his diet will get. The real cause for concern in this situation are the reports that Embiid had not always been a willing participant, and has even blown off some workouts.

Like his teammate Nerlens Noel‘s situation last year, Embiid will likely not see the court at all this season. But just because he will not play this season, doesn’t mean that workouts are optional.

Sure at only 20 years of age, there is a certain level of immaturity that can be expected, but Embiid needs to quickly realize he is no longer an amateur who plays basketball as a hobby. Rather, he is now a professional athlete who plays basketball for a living. Workouts are longer optional for Embiid, and it is imperative that he takes his workouts and rehabilitation as serious as he takes finding a date in Twitter.

Greg Sacidor is a Philadelphia 76ers and NBA writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Greg_Sacidor or add him to your network on Google.

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