PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 11: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 11, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Clippers 110-103. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Philadephia 76ers center Joel Embiid euro-stepped his way to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets, all while proving the traveling violation is a myth.
Joel Embiid took enough euro steps in one sequence to backpack across the continent that invented the move.
On Thursday night against the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers’ star took the ball on the left elbow and went looking for two points. He found them, but only after taking three hilariously oversized steps to do so.
In this moment, the traveling violation was officially taken out of the NBA rulebook. If you look closely enough, you can see commission Adam Silver tearing the page out underneath the hoop.
The move has become commonplace in the association and while most of the time it fits into the rules, this is a comical example of things going too far. The only thing missing was Embiid tucking the basketball underneath one of his arms, lowering his shoulder and driving in for the lay-up.
The best part is how nobody on Brooklyn looks remotely surprised there wasn’t a call. Growing up in the 1990s, everybody knew stars got the calls. No official was calling Michael Jordan for a push-off. Every ref was going to let Patrick Ewing create some space for his patented fade-away baseline jumper. Fine and fair enough.
Embiid — who while terrific is not on either of those players’ levels — takes it to another height here. Of course, nobody really cares because it’s entertaining and who doesn’t love a big man on the move?
Joel Embiid. World traveler.