He has yet to play in a game and the James Harden effect has been felt in Philadelphia.
Harden, who was acquired by the February 10 trading deadline, will be taking the All-Star break but has been involved in a number of activities, where he was spotted working with MVP candidate Joel Embiid about the signature jumper.
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Sixers midfielder Joel Embiid is trying to get James Harden back. Assistant coach Sam Cassell went on to say Embiid is taking four steps, tho. Harden shows him how to do it in two steps. pic.twitter.com/f5l9Vq8gyn
– Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) February 15, 2022
I know what you’re thinking here. Embiid is, without a doubt, one of the most skill centers the game has ever seen, but he wouldn’t try a move in a game before perfecting it, would he?
Wrong.
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Before halftime in the Sixers’ heavy loss to the Celtics, Embiid tried his hand at Harden’s signed move and it… didn’t go well.
Joel Embiid tried to do the James Harden backstroke he learned on Monday and was called on to travel. 😂🤣# 76ers pic.twitter.com/Ej1c4h3iLS
– Saheel Momin (@sm_reports) February 16, 2022
Just as assistant coach Sam Cassell told him in the practice footage above, Embiid took too many steps back and ended up being whistled for a tour.
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To add insult to injury, the move didn’t even work, as Celtics center Al Horford thwarted an effort that wasn’t counted.
Given Embiid’s high level of skill and dribbling, it is only a matter of time before he actually manages to make the move, but given the fact that he is leading the league in scoring do not have a 3-step back pointer in his arsenal, he’d better leave it to Harden.
