JoJo Does What He Wants: The On-Court Fashion King of 2017
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid wore goggles to practice because he, “felt like it.” It’s not the first on-court statement Embiid has made.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has missed the last five games, and will miss the next few according to medical updates from the team. Embiid, who has been the runaway Rookie of the Year candidate so far this season, is very charismatic on the court with his body language and the way that he plays. He’s also tried a few fashion statements this year, the most recent being goggles in shoot-around on Wednesday morning before their game that night.
While any other player wearing goggles for basketball would be, for the most part, a very minor occurrence, for JoJo, sometimes it feels like it’s bigger.
It’s notable that Hakeem Olajuwon, the originator of the “Dream Shake” a move Embiid has attempted to master and has added to his game, wore goggles for a significant portion of his NBA career.
Embiid debuted the goggles on his Instagram story, asking his followers if bringing back the goggles was a good idea. Embiid wore goggles for a few games in his rookie (and only) season at Kansas as well.
When Sixers public relations director Michael Preston asked Embiid what the goggles were for — likely knowing that the press would ask, assuming an injury had taken place — Embiid told him, “I felt like it.”
Me: "Big guy, real quick: Why the goggles today?"@JoelEmbiid: "I felt like it."
Me: "Makes sense." pic.twitter.com/JRHmy2TELE— Michael Preston (@preston76) February 8, 2017
Kurt Gies, a member of the Sixers’ social team, posted a collection of the different trends Embiid has tried out this year. Aside from the goggle, Embiid has tried a headband, and also a shooting sleeve. Gies said later that he felt double shooting sleeves should be next, but I would have to disagree. Elton Brand wristbands should definitely come before that.
jojo givin everything a try this season pic.twitter.com/b4JjPPWpnZ
— kurt gies (@kurtwearshats) February 8, 2017
Another thing Embiid has done all year is leggings under the shorts, which is actually a more iconic look than it’s getting credit for. Although it’s a bit out of style now, players like Dwyane Wade did that (around the time of Miami’s 2006 NBA Title win).
JoJo is so good, that he can do whatever he wants with his on-court style. If he likes it, I like it. I might just start wearing goggles for pickup games now.
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