ReJoel Embiid of the Sixers shares the moment he realized becoming an NBA star was possible.

After being selected third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014 NBA Draft, Embiid emerged as the Prince that the Process had promised, the player lacking the strength and versatility to lead one of the most illustrious teams in sports back to the top.

However, the criticism was harsh and swift when he rode the bench for his first two seasons. Despite being sidelined due to numerous foot injuries, the Kansas center appeared ready to be added to the elite group of big man busts in league history, alongside players like Anthony Bennett, Greg Oden, and Hasheem Thabeet.

That’s when he felt most overwhelmed by the weight on his shoulders. Embiid has called those solitary years of fighting injuries and hearing people constantly talk about how much potential he wasted his “darkest days.”

Now, things are very different. Four years later, Embiid is a veritable NBA superstar after overcoming his injuries and concentrating on honing his special brand of point-center skills. He’s a global celebrity who signed the biggest shoe contract ever for a basketball player and was inducted into the Sports Twitter Hall of Fame.