Of course, his first-ballot induction into the Rights to Ricky Sanchez Process Hall of Fame is about a lot more than his greatness -- particularly his on-court greatness. It’s about him riding and dying with Sam Hinkie, the guy who’s name we’ll put on the building someday. It’s about him tagging Milwaukee “shithole” and him treating Hassan Whiteside and Andre Drummond like Twitter eggs. It’s about him courting and then shunning Rihanna, or maybe it wasn’t Rihanna, or lol how many articles have we written about this non-story already anyway? It’s about him even knowing that Retweet Armageddon was a thing that was happening in the universe, let alone deigning to actively participate. It’s about him so obviously being one of us that he tattooed it on his own name and got Matt Cord to bellow it at a couple thousand decibels every night. It’s about Joel Embiid being The Process, in all ways, always.

There was never any doubt that he’d be the first player inducted. Coming up with reasons why it should be another Process Sixer is like trying to make the case for why a player besides LeBron James should be considered the best of the last 15 years. Yes, Dwyane Wade has as many championships, yes, Kevin Durant is as good a shooter, yes, Kawhi Leonard is as good a defender, yes, Russell Westbrook is as big of a triple-double threat, and yes, Giannis Antetokounmpo is (maybe?) as much of an athletic freak. But only one guy does all of those things and has forever, and that’s LeBron James. He’s the guy.