Stephen A. Smith slams 76ers' 'disgraceful' process

Stephen A. Smith doesn't Trust The Process. In fact, he hates it.

During Wednesday's First Take on ESPN, Smith went on a furious rant when asked if he simply trusted The Process. The initial topic was supposed to be about the 76ers resting star center Joel Embiid, but Smith instead took aim at the slogan that has become synonymous with tanking in the NBA.

Smith said:

"Hell no. And I'm not laughing. I don't play that game, not even a little bit. I despise it. I can't stand it. My man Mike Missanelli who does his radio broadcast in Philadelphia, I've gotten on him about it. I've gotten to the point where I don't even allow him to ask me that question because he knows it's gonna tick me off … They know I don't play this mess with this process. And it's very, very simple because I don't believe that any franchise should have the right to lose on purpose for years - for years! - while still charging the paying customer. And you're making no effort to win. I think it's disgraceful. I think it's disgusting. I can't stand it. And I don't want to hear a damned thing about it. A matter of fact, I'm gonna start cursing people out that ask me about it."

Sure, tanking is lame, but "The Process" has brought Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to NBA fans - can't hate that. And really, it was Embiid who took the self-deprecating slogan to another level by embracing it as his nickname. The 76ers weren't the first team to tank nor will they be the last.

Smith has been consistent about his disdain for The Process.

We'll give him that.