Thrust the Process: Embiid pays tribute to WWE stars

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Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts after being fouled during the first half of Game 2 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

With support from WWEā€™s resident good-time guys, Joel Embiid has channeled his inner wrestler and learned to Thrust the Process.

As the Philadelphia crowd roared, the 76ersā€™ NBA MVP candidate mimicked a crude Degeneration X chop after he was fouled in a Game 2 victory over Washington. Embiid has long expressed his wrestling fandom and members of the Hall of Fame wrestling stable have noticed. ā€œThe Heartbreak Kidā€ Shawn Michaels and Triple H -- best known these days as WWE executive Paul Levesque -- tweeted their shoutouts of the honorary DX member.

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ā€ā€¦and if youā€™re not down with that!!!!ā€ Michaels tweeted.

Wrestling fans know the rest of that catchphrase.

ā€œI mentioned that in the past, DX is my favorite. Triple H and Shawn Michaels were my favorite wrestlers,ā€ Embiid said after he scored 22 points against the Wizards. ā€œObviously, the group was also my favorite, and thatā€™s what they used to do. When the refs called the and-1, it just makes sense to combine the both of them and just enjoy myself.ā€

At 7 feet, Embiid truly might be DXā€™s biggest fan.

Levesque, WWE EVP of global talent strategy and development, said Embiid had ā€œexcellentā€ form when he chopped and thrusted on his back.

ā€œWe might have to make a trip there. Iā€™ll have Shawn give him some tips,ā€ Levesque said by phone Friday.

Embiid might break out the move again when the Sixers take a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 Saturday in Washington.

ā€œItā€™s flattering in a way to have that as part of your legacy,ā€ Levesque said.

Embiid can complete the full transformation into WWE star with a championship belt around his waist should he lead the Sixers to the NBA title. WWE has traditionally awarded custom belts to NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, the Premier League and other major sports champions. LeBron James has worn T-shirts saluting wrestlers ā€œStone Coldā€ Steve Austin and the Undertaker to practice and games. Grammy-winner Bad Bunny referenced the same two stars in his song ā€œBooker Tā€ (another WWE Hall of Famer) and later wrestled and won a tag-team match at this yearā€™s WrestleMania.

Rob Gronkowski was shirtless when he raised a WWE New England Patriots belt over his head during a Super Bowl parade.

ā€œWhen you think about now, guys like Joel or Gronk, they were either younger kids growing up where it was really influential to them at that time,ā€ Levesque said. ā€œThe whole world was watching it and everybody was interacting with them. It just stayed with them.ā€

Who knows, Embiid might be able to recruit DX -- formed in 1997 during WWEā€™s Attitude Era - to ring the ceremonial bell that starts Sixers games.

The irreverent Philadelphia-based sports blog Crossing Broad got in on the fun and listed its Mount Rushmore of DX matches in honor of Embiidā€™s cross-armed chop.

ā€œI had no idea at the time we were ruining so many generations,ā€ Levesque said, laughing. ā€œI think itā€™s really cool itā€™s lasted so long. I think in some ways weā€™re the superhero version of athletes. The crazy, over-the-top version of what they wish they could be sometimes.ā€

Embiid walked out to the Triple Hā€™s theme music, ā€œThe Game,ā€ by Motorhead for a 2017 game, cocked his head back and spewed water into the air. Embiid stuffed his cheeks with water and too much spilled down his chin. Triple H noticed Embiid used his signature move and tweeted, ā€œStill have to perfect the water-to-spit ratio...Not bad for a first attempt.ā€

ā€œI kind of messed up at the end,ā€ Embiid said in 2017. ā€œThat was the first time I did it.ā€

But certainly not the last time he tried to emulate his wrestling heroes.

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