Sixers star Joel Embiid ranked as 2nd-best center in NBA behind Nikola Jokic
Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid is one of the dominant players in the league regardless of position. The way he impacts the game on both ends of the floor is terrific, and he will throw the Sixers on his back when the time calls.
In a season in which he averaged 28.5 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting 51.3% from the floor, Embiid led the Sixers to the No. 1 seed for the first time in 20 years. The way he quickly identified where the double teams were coming from and making the right decisions in those situations was a big help in his development as well as continuing to take better care of his body.
For his efforts, he finished as the MVP runner-up behind Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic. Embiid and Jokic are widely regarded as the two best centers in the league. Some lean toward Embiid due to his added defensive impact while others choose Jokic due to his innate passing ability and being able to rack up triple-doubles easily.
In a center ranking put together by HoopsHype, it has Jokic as the best center in the league with Embiid second:
Embiid ranked No. 11 in the NBA last year in VORP, a cumulative stat, so he would have finished higher if not for the injury, sixth in BPM and second in WS/48, behind only the player coming up next on our list.
Embiid has already shown he’s one of the league’s top players throughout his career, with a 24.8-point and 11.3-rebound-per-game career marks, four All-Star appearances and three 2nd Team All-NBAs under his belt, but with regards to 2021-22, next season will be about Embiid proving he can lead a team on a deep playoff run and be a championship centerpiece.
The team’s last three postseasons have ended prior to the Eastern Conference finals, with the middle of the three being a four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics. Another playoff disappointment in 2021-22 could change the way we look at Embiid and potentially take him down a tier when discussing the NBA’s top players.
Embiid will have to eventually lead the Sixers on a deeper playoff run to be regarded higher in the league. But, as it stands, the big fella is one of the best players in the league. He is dominant on both ends of the floor, and his mere presence makes the Sixers a contender.
Philadelphia will have to figure out the situation with Ben Simmons to get the right All-Star counterpart for the big fella, but the Sixers are still a contender to win the title this season regardless of the Simmons saga. That is thanks in part to the dominance of Embiid’s play.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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