After 2 years of being sidelined because of a broken right foot which required two surgeries, the 7-foot-2 Center from Cameroon, Joel Hans Imbiid finally made his NBA debut for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Imbiid was drafted third overall in the 2014 NBA draft by the Sixers. He was projected to be the number one pick but slid down to number three after he announced his injury a week before the draft.
Former Sixers president Sam Hinkie's trust on Imbiid began even before his first NBA game. Despite the announcement of his injury, the Sixers drafted him and gave him time to heal. Even when it took a long time for his foot to heal, the Sixers stuck with him and the catchphrase "Trust The Process" came into existence.
Imbiid was cleared by doctors to play in the preseason. His playing time was limited but whenever he got the chance to step on the floor, he made Hinkie and the Sixers look like geniuses for sticking with him. The Sixers came into the season with expectations that they will do better than their horrific 10-72 finish last season.
When Imbiid was introduced prior to tipoff of their game against the Oklahoma Thunder, fans went wild and chanted "Trust The Process". During the game, fans cheered every time he attempted a shot or made a play. Chants of "MVP! MVP! MVP!" were also heard.
Although he's nowhere near being an MVP right now, he showed flashes of the talent that made Hinkie believe in him. He displayed his footwork, his tenacity, his competitiveness, his shooting touch, his range, and his rim-protecting ability.
He finished the game with 20 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks in 22 minutes of action in a 103-97 loss to the Oklahoma thunder. Even though the Sixers lost, they showed a lot of promise that the season would be better than last year.
Aside from Imbiid, other Sixers players also gave fans reasons to believe in them. Sergio Rodriguez was phenomenal as the primary playmaker while Nik Stauskas, Jahlil Okafor, and Gerald Henderson contributed on offense.