Joel Embiid doesn’t know exactly who will rule Westeros when all things are said and done in Game of Thrones, but he does know one person who won’t control King’s Landing.
The Process himself has a Game of Thrones theory worth hearing out, especially as we enter The Long Night between seasons as HBO wrings out what’s left of George R.R. Martin’s sprawling plot points and dragon play before it goes off in search of its next big hit.
The show has plenty of high-profile fans, but few are making as bold a prediction as the Philadelphia 76ers forward did in an ESPN feature that was published on Tuesday. Ramona Shelbourne profiled Embiid in a long piece that covered a long variety of topics, including his approaching legendary trash talking. But the first thing the big man covers is who will win the battle for the Iron Throne of Westeros. And boy does Embiid have a take.
Shelbourne notes that Embiid hasn’t read the books, isn’t tracking down theories online and doesn’t have any insider information. What he has, Embiid says, is an eye for this kind of thing.
“I’ve studied the whole show,” he says, and it’s clear to Embiid that Kit Harington’s character, Jon Snow, will not end up on the Iron Throne.
“That’s what everybody thinks is going to happen,” Embiid says. “But the whole show has been that you don’t know what’s going to happen. Jon Snow will not be the king.”
The prediction is used in the lede to set up a nice little lesson about Embiid’s perception, and maybe the subtle trolling he has turned into an art form. So perhaps he does think Snow will come out on top, but he just knows saying he won’t will make the most people possible mad. Or maybe he’s the Night King and he’s got a cannon for an arm, ready to take down more mythical creatures. At this point, with Embiid’s athleticism, I’d believe just about anything.
Either way, the feature is full of cool moments, like Embiid talking about fired Sixers GM Sam Hinkie and how he worked through injuries. Embiid is always a great quote, and he has no shortage of things to say. Maybe someone can ask him what’s going on with The Walking Dead next.
