A certain phrase has gained a cult-like following in Philadelphia. It rattles around the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia as the 76ers take the court. It’s a go-to Instagram caption (or even a go-to Instagram bio) for 76ers fans. And, most importantly, it’s a great motto to live by.
What mysterious phrase am I talking about? I’m talking about “trust the process," the unofficial slogan of the Philadelphia 76ers.
But what does it mean, exactly? The key part of understanding “trust the process” is identifying what “the process” refers to. There is no official definition of what “the process” is, but it can be found from context.
The Philadelphia 76ers, from 2013 to 2017, underwent a complete overhaul. They unloaded every speck of talent on their roster, opting instead to build a competitive roster through the NBA Draft, picking up young stars along the way. In theory, these prospects would blossom into superstars. However, the Sixers’ process did not go exactly as planned. In the 2014 NBA Draft, they selected Joel Embiid, a supremely talented (and severely injured) 7’2” center. After missing two long years recovering from a stress fracture in his foot, Embiid finally made his triumphant debut. In those two years, Philadelphia added center Jahlil Okafor (who they have since traded) and 6’10” point guard Ben Simmons, who missed his first season due to a similar foot injury. Over this four year span, the 76ers won 75 games and lost 253. Woof.
Although it’s possible to look at this terrible record and think about how much the team suffered, the suffering had a purpose. The 76ers emerged from this span with two seemingly generational talents. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have been compared to Hakeem Olajuwon and Magic Johnson, respectively. And together, they carried the 2017-2018 76ers to a 52-30 record and a playoff berth.
From this brief history of the process-era 76ers, we can assume that “the process” is sort of a “God’s plan” type of thing. Don’t get me wrong, “trust the process” is not some sort of religious mantra (although it does seem to have a sort of religious following); rather it is a belief that life is comprised of two things: processes, and the results of those processes. The 76ers have been through the process, and now are seeing the results.
All things considered, what does it mean to “trust the process”? It means working to build something new, to better yourself. It means believing that current suffering and adversity will only make you stronger in the long run and it means having faith in yourself in the face of that adversity.
It works out as a three-act play. There’s the beginning of the process itself, then there’s trusting the process, and then there’s the result. Embiid and Simmons are the embodiment of this play. They both faced immense adversity early on (the process begins), but persevered (they trust the process), and together they have marched the formerly abysmal 76ers into the playoffs (the result).
Is this my Philadelphia bias showing? Probably—I am literally saying to live your life like my favorite basketball team. But it’s also sound life advice. Believe in yourself throughout the process, and have faith in the process itself, and positive results will follow.
And if you can find a way to involve Joel Embiid in your own personal process, even better.
