76ers rookie Joel Embiid has been shamelessly running a vigorous Twitter campaign to rack up All-Star Game votes, and nobody is going to slow him down. Not even Heat center Hassan Whiteside.
Without calling out Embiid by name, Whiteside told the Miami Sun Sentinel that the voting system, in which retweets count as votes, is a “gimmick” and “a popularity thing.”
“People are going to vote for who they like,” Whiteside said. “It’s more of a popularity thing. … It’s more so a gimmick. I look at guys and they just do stuff to win the fans over, make jokes on Twitter to get people to vote for them. It ain’t got nothing to do really with talent.”
How did Embiid respond? Simply by sharing the love.
Hassan Whiteside #NBAVote https://t.co/4dBXNZ2hUU
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 13, 2017
Oh and also by voting for himself again.
Joel Embiid #NBAVote https://t.co/4dBXNZ2hUU
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 13, 2017
Embiid’s whole Twitter campaign began when he said his crush wouldn’t date him until he became more famous and made an All-Star Game.
Since then, he’s gotten plenty creative, even mock retweeting a vote by president-elect Donald Trump.
WOWWW RT @realDonaldTrump Joel Embiid #NBAVote
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 5, 2017
When former Sixers president and GM Sam Hinkie voted for his 2014 first round draft pick, Embiid went nuts.
I got you
See you in NOLAJoel Embiid #NBAVote https://t.co/grCPULyDcH
— Sam Hinkie (@samhinkie) January 10, 2017
This is a GOD DREAM, this is a GOD DREAM
Joel Embiid #NBAVote https://t.co/oVxpodQDRB
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 11, 2017
Embiid has not only gotten support from 76ers teammates on Twitter, but also Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, Angels star Mike Trout, Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and receiver Jordan Matthews, and rappers Meek Mill and Lil Dicky.
Here’s the rundown.
#Sixers fans! Let's help get @JoelEmbiid into the 2017 @NBAAllStar Game in New Orleans. Retweet to vote! #NBAVOTE @Sixers #NBAAllStar #nba
— Allen Iverson (@alleniverson) January 7, 2017
Joel Embiid #NBAVOTE
— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) January 12, 2017
I think I'm a little late to the party, but this dude @JoelEmbiid has been a monster. Get him in the All-Star game…. Joel Embiid #NBAVote
— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) January 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/jmattjmattjmatt/status/819675488809582592
https://twitter.com/MeekMill/status/818180249758367745
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO VOTE FOR THE PROCESS @JoelEmbiid TO BE AN ALL STAR. He's so good. He's also very nice and funny. #superstar #nbavote
— Dave (@lildickytweets) January 5, 2017
In the newest voting update released Thursday, Embiid was fourth among Eastern Conference frontcourt players with 457,300 votes, only a few behind Kevin Love for third.
Whiteside dropped out of the top 10, but we know he regained at least one more vote thanks to The Process.