Joel Embiid has a pretty good argument for being the most beloved and significant Philadelphia athlete of the 21st century — save perhaps Allen Iverson. He’s a behemoth of a center, the anchor of The Process, and a magnetic personality, not to mention an MVP-caliber player when he’s fully healthy (which is unfortunately all too rare).
When you think about Embiid’s brand beyond Philadelphia and hardcore NBA circles though, it’s surprisingly light.
Embiid doesn’t have a notable shoe or apparel line of his own. His most high-profile endorsement is a years-old Hulu campaign. He’s not a player we see intermittently in international competition, and he doesn’t get the same popularity boost from his Kansas connection as, say, players from Kentucky and Duke seem to enjoy. Embiid doesn’t pop up on analyst desks after a playoff loss and rarely does podcast interviews. And he hasn’t made a Jordan-, LeBron-, or Shaq-like leap into film (though SI noted that he nearly had Kevin Garnett’s role in Uncut Gems).
None of this is a problem if it doesn’t bother Embiid. The guy’s doing just fine for himself and seems perfectly content. But when you really break it down, it’s bizarre that he hasn’t become more of a celebrity than he has. So just for fun, we thought up some ways for Philly’s star center to expand his brand with ease….
1) Start a Podcast
We mentioned Embiid’s relative lack of podcast appearances, and while this seems almost like too predictable an idea, it’s still one that makes sense. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not something he’d have to wait for retirement to do, either.
A handful of NBA players have become regulars on the podcast circuit, and former Sixers sharpshooter JJ Redick has had so much success in the medium that he’s had his podcast written up by The New York Times! Of course, some people are just better or more interested in this sort of thing than others, but Embiid is a funny, personable guy in his own way.
Who wouldn’t want to check out the Embiid pod?
2) Launch a Mobile Game
Okay, so Joel Embiid probably can’t develop a mobile game on his own… we don’t think. He’s talented enough that we wouldn’t put it past him. More to the point though, there are mobile games concerning just about everything these days, and we’ve seen individual figures ranging from Katy Perry to Cristiano Ronaldo feature in their own titles.
So why not Embiid?
It may be a goofy idea, but it’s one that would likely reach tens of thousands of mobile users at least, and it would give Embiid that playful off-court venture he’s currently lacking. (We’re envisioning an old-school, side-scrolling arcade in which a pixellated Sam Hinkie recruits Joel to fight off bad guys throughout NBA cities in search of the Larry O’Brien trophy, but it could be anything really.)
3) Launch a Slot Game
This wouldn’t be a viable option for most NBA players, but because Embiid happens to play in a market where online casino gaming is legal and accessible, it’s not a bad one for him.
Furthermore, as in mobile games, there are online slots that revolve around individual celebrities! Leading portal Foxy Bingo’s games section has titles devoted to the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Bruce Lee, Michael Jackson, and Thor (who thanks to Chris Hemsworth may as well be a real person at this point). There are also a few rock star-related games prevalent across a number of different sites.
So while an Embiid slot sounds like a pretty weird idea, it would actually suit the category — and in Pennsylvania, it would probably become one of the most widely enjoyed games in the entire online casino industry.
4) Do a Film
It may not be the most inventive idea, but Joel could undoubtedly expand his celebrity by snagging a visible movie role — and there’s no doubt he could get one. He’s dabbled in some short projects before (voice acting for Lil Dicky: Earth and playing a part in a promo for The Equalizer 2).
But whether it’s a real part like Garnett’s in Uncut Gems, a spoof role akin to those in Space Jam 2 or Uncle Drew, or even a stunt casting move like that of Boban Marjanovic in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, this is definitely an idea that would range the Sixers star’s profile.
5) Hop on the TNT Desk
It’s not something we can really envision Joel doing, but taking up an occasional role as a player-analyst for TNT would work wonders for his reputation. While this is something we most often see from recently retired players (Dwyane Wade, Richard Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, and so on), some active players have had success trying it as well.
Draymond Green has joined the TNT crew multiple times in the past two seasons and done quite well with it, for instance.
At any point when Embiid might be hurt and resting, or even if the Sixers are out but the playoffs are still going on, he’d be a fun addition to the desk.
Once again, Joel Embiid is doing just fine for himself.
But if he or the people around him ever decide that his profile is bizarrely small beyond Sixers basketball, these are some interesting ways in which he could reach a broader audience.
Featured Image: Pixabay
The post 5 Ways Joel Embiid’s Brand Could Be Expanded appeared first on Philadelphia Sports Nation.
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