The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Joel Embiid Is Heading For Beast Mode

By Bret Stuter

Mar 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Joel Embiid (right) share a laugh during warm ups before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Joel Embiid (right) share a laugh during warm ups before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts to an officials call during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 107-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts to an officials call during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 107-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Present Day Heroics

Joel Embiid is more than just an NBA center.  Delivering two way – post offense and rim protecting defense, gives the Philadelphia 76ers somebody very special to build around.  The team needs a ball distributor (hello Ben Simmons) and some perimeter shooting (hello Dario Saric, Robert Covington, and off the bench Nik Stauskas, Isaiah Canaan).

It seems that the Philadelphia are true believers in the recent footage of Joel Embiid’s workouts.  The team is now rumored to be fielding offers on both Nerlens Noel and on Jahlil Okafor.   What could deliver the team to consider trading two first round centers, typically one of the most diffiult positions to fill?

Philadelphia is a city where legends of the NBA have been born.  From the early days of Wilt Chamberlain through Dr. J, Chocolate Thunder, Moses Malone, Allen Iverson, the city has always had a basketball player whose style on the court was equaled by his presence of the court.

That role has gone vacant , until now.  I’ll place my feet back on the ground tomorrow, but for today, this moment,  I want to relish the optimism that Joel Embiid is bringing to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Tomorrow, he will need to earn this reverence.  But to give him credit, he has won over the hearts of virtually everyone associated with the  Philadelphia 76ers – including a very pessimistic fan base.

Next: NBA Draft Scouting Report: Brice Johnson

If you are looking for a miracle out of this young man, I think you are standing in it.