March 05, 2020
As any Philadelphia 76ers fan knows, All-Star center Joel Embiid coined the nickname "The Process" for himself back in 2016 during his rookie season. It comes from the iconic "Trust the Process" moniker which described franchise's philosophy for improving the team by tanking during the Sam Hinkie era.
The phrase also earned Hinkie and the organization a cultish following that exists to this day, with disciples believing that years of losing seasons would eventually payoff in the Sixers first NBA championship since 1983. Whether the will come to fruition remains to be seen.
During Wednesday's episode of "Jeopardy!", the Sixers' big man and his nickname were the subject of an answer in the shows "Current Sports Nicknames" category. The clue read "Joel Embiid in 2019 won the trademark for this nickname of his that also describes the 76ers' strategy of improving the team."
A contestant named Paul – who was in the early lead with $4,200 – took a crack at it with the absolute confidence of someone who knew the correct corresponding question.
"What is, Do a 180?" Paul said without hesitation.
Yes, you're reading that correctly. He said that Sixers All-Star center's nickname Joel "Do a 180" Embiid — and it cost him $1,000, dropping him back to $3,200. If we're giving Paul the benefit of the doubt, doing a 180 does describe completely changing one's direction, which is what the Sixers were trying to do with The Process.
However, it simply makes no sense as the nickname.
The sequence is even funnier when you actually see it.
Joel Embiid's new nickname from now on is "Do a 180" pic.twitter.com/xCCAEJ6TF7
— Mark (@tole_cover) March 5, 2020
Neither of Paul's competitors, Barbara or Mike, even offered responses before time expired and "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek revealed the correct question.
At least give Paul credit for shooting his shot here. Embiid would be proud, and maybe he is a "Jeopardy!" fan himself, because not long after the episode, the NBA star updated the bio on his Twitter page with his "new" nickname.A “Jeopardy!” contestant incorrectly guessed that Sixers center Joel Embiid's nickname was 'Do a 180' during the episode on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Embiid played along and updated his Twitter bio with the new monicker.
Embiid has not been playing on the Sixers' West Coast road trip as he is recovering from a sprained left shoulder.
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