After a disappointing postseason, Joel Embiid faced much scrutiny. He dealt with knee tendinitis and illnesses which didn't allow him to be at his best. It also seemed to suck the joy out of the normally charismatic center.
He took that Game 7 quadruple doink hard, visibly crying on the floor and making sure to call out his detractors during exit interviews.
And it appears he's taking his health more seriously. The All-Star big man claims to have lost 25 pounds in a recent video where he took on the Paqui One Chip Challenge. While it's encouraging to hear that Embiid has been working on his fitness this offseason, it's also good to see he still has his typical sense of humor.
During the video, he eats a chip dipped in black seasoning that's made with Carolina Reaper Pepper, which is "certified by the Guinness World Records as the world's hottest chili pepper." Embiid eats the chip and tries to downplay the intensity of the heat, repeating over and over again "I'm African" and that he "doesn't feel anything" – while he's wilting on the floor in agony and chugging milk.
It was Embiid being himself.
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And It was good to see him covered in sweat and crying for a different reason.
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