"I’m always going to keep working. That’s who I am"
About this Quote
The intent reads like message control. Embiid has spent years as both spectacle and target: dominant MVP-caliber peaks, postseason disappointments that invite armchair psychoanalysis, and a body that’s scrutinized like a fragile asset. Saying he’ll “keep working” signals continuity amid instability, a promise to teammates and fans that the effort isn’t conditional on praise. It’s also a pre-emptive rebuttal to the oldest sports accusation: that talent has made someone complacent.
The subtext is more personal than it sounds. Embiid’s path - late start in basketball, rapid rise, long rehab years early in his NBA career - makes “working” less slogan, more autobiography. He’s not just defending his reputation; he’s defending the logic of his own ascent. The second sentence, “That’s who I am,” seals it: not a goal, not a resolution, but a self-portrait meant to outlast whatever the season’s verdict ends up being.
Quote Details
| Topic | Work Ethic |
|---|---|
| Source | Practice/media availability quote (approx. 2017–2022; widely repeated in team coverage) |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Embiid, Joel. (2026, January 30). I’m always going to keep working. That’s who I am. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/im-always-going-to-keep-working-thats-who-i-am-184799/
Chicago Style
Embiid, Joel. "I’m always going to keep working. That’s who I am." FixQuotes. January 30, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/im-always-going-to-keep-working-thats-who-i-am-184799/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I’m always going to keep working. That’s who I am." FixQuotes, 30 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/im-always-going-to-keep-working-thats-who-i-am-184799/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.