Joel Embiid has transformed himself over the last few years into one of the best players in the NBA. The Cameroonian big man is playing at an elite level this season and is considered one of the frontrunners to win MVP this season. A big factor in Embiid’s development has been his incredible competitive spirit. And according to one former 76ers assistant coach, his competitive nature isn’t limited to the court.
Former Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Billy Lange recently spoke in an interview with The Athletic about Joel Embiid. He shared a story about Embiid coming to his house to eat dinner. He brought his PlayStation with him and offered to play his sons in Madden and NBA 2K. Embiid was fiercely competitive with Lange’s sons, brutally defeating them in both games, and showing no mercy while playing against them.
Billy Lange, 76ers assistant coach: My wife, Alicia, and I have four sons. He takes a car service, he comes over and Alicia cooks for him. He has this backpack with him. He says to my boys, “You guys want to play video games?” Of course, they’re going to say yes. And he takes out his PlayStation.
Alicia Lange: He put it literally on the main TV in my house. He wanted everyone to watch how bad he beat them.
Billy Lange: When I say he pummeled my kids, there was no mercy. I think he won a Madden game, 98-6.
Alicia Lange: At the time, my kids were 7, 9 and 10.
Marc Lange, Billy’s and Alicia’s son: Every time he’d get a turnover he’d say something to me, right to my face. One time he left to go to the bathroom and I got a safety with his controller and he was mad.
Alicia Lange: No mercy.
Billy Lange: Then he goes to play (NBA) 2K, which has all these angles and my kids have always played on the angle like you’re watching the game on television. But Joel plays from the baseline angle. He was beating them by like 200 points. He was unrelenting and he was talking smack. “Can’t guard me. You can’t get a stop.” All of it. Just giggling. Unbelievable. While my wife is cooking for him.
Alicia Lane: He killed them and laughed the entire time. He wiped every kid off the game.
Embiid clearly wants to compete in every possible avenue, regardless of the game. That competitive nature has allowed Embiid to become one of the best players in the league. Embiid goes out every night with the intention of outdoing the competition and getting himself and his team the win. That kind of approach will take Embiid a long way in this league, as players with a competitive streak usually do very well.
Embiid and the 76ers are considered one of the favorites to win the NBA championship. With the arrival of James Harden, Joel Embiid finally has a reliable co-star on his side, especially after he and Ben Simmons’ had a massive falling out at the end of last season, which led to Simmons being traded by the 76ers.
