Joel Embiid talks The Process: Sam Hinkie 'lost his job because of me'

Jason Owens
·Staff writer
After years of futility in Philadelphia, “The Process” is now paying dividends. (AP)
After years of futility in Philadelphia, “The Process” is now paying dividends. (AP)

Much has been made about the Philadelphia 76ers’ rebuild in recent years orchestrated by former general manager Sam Hinkie.

“The Process” involved years of losing, tanking and stockpiling draft picks. Along with charging fans full admission to watch a team that was actively working to put a poor product on the court.

It was a strategy that ultimately cost Hinkie his job. It’s also a strategy that’s starting to pay dividends with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons anchoring what is arguably the most exciting young core in the NBA.

While the long-term verdict of “The Process” is still to be determined, one critical voice has chimed in.

Embiid, who proudly dubs himself “The Process,” spoke with NBA.com’s David Aldridge on Monday to give his thoughts on Hinkie.

“I mean, that’s the guy that drafted me, and he made sure he put everything in place so I could get healthy,” Embiid said of Hinkie. “And I feel like he basically lost his job because of me, because I missed two years. So I feel like I owe him a lot.”

Former Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie is out of the NBA as “The Process” comes to fruition. (AP)
Former Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie is out of the NBA as “The Process” comes to fruition. (AP)

Embiid’s injuries cost him his entire first two seasons in the NBA after he was drafted third overall in 2014 and all but 31 games last year. Hinkie stepped down at the tail end of 2015-16, a season that got off to a 1-30 start and ended at 10-72.

But now that Embiid and Simmons are healthy, Hinkie is still left on the sidelines. How “The Process” turns out in the long run may determine if we hear from Hinkie in the NBA again. It sounds like he’s got Embiid in his corner.