Joel Embiid Is the Ultimate Test For the Philadelphia 76ers

Apr 8, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dunks the ball before a game against the Washington Wizards at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Something To Get Excited About

Embiid appears to be a natural.  His measurables have placed him into immediate consideration as a player with a bright NBA career in his futre. At 7’0 and 250 pounds with a 7’4 wingspan, Embiid looks like he had been engineered, as though he was constructed from an “NBA superstar” blueprint in a laboratory from the best parts of lesser center prospects. He has elite size, length and athleticism. He has the ability to get down in a stance and switch on the pick-and-roll, bang with bigger players on the block and contest shots high above the rim. Embiid is the rare seven-footer who projects as both an elite defensive and offensive player. But in the framework of having so little exposure to the actual game of basketball, he still has plenty to be excited about:

Embiid averaged a mere 22 minutes a night in college because he flirted with foul trouble. He plays aggressively, since he hadn’t determined that a better path was not to block every shot, grab every rebound and go after every steal. He is still a novice at one year of college coupled with only a couple years of secondary education basketball, and he remains unaware of the fact that his mere presence in the middle of the lane is more than enough to impact the game. He averaged 11 points, eight rebounds, one assist, one steal and 2.5 blocks a game on 62 percent shooting in that time, good for a 26.8 PER. He brings a good game.

His situation certainly helped him out, of course. Under Bill Self, the Jayhawks have always been one of the premier post teams in the country, running an inside-out attack that features a lot of high-low action and back-door cuts.   Coach Self’s offense was the perfectly suited to teach Embiid the game.  The Jayhawks maintained proper floor spacing and the perimeter players must be responsible to play off a big man. Most college teams aren’t committed to playing inside-out, with guards who don’t know how to feed the post and who stand around and watch when they do, making it easy to double-team the block. In that respect, Embiid may have benefited by not picking up the game until he was 16. Unlike most young big men, he didn’t learn any bad habits. Embiid is not trying to run point, move the ball all over the court. He has no problem getting into the post, fighting for position and demanding the ball. He learned the value of real estate on the basketball court. His height gives him the deed to the high-rise district immediately around and under the basket.

But, he played center for one season for one college team. Then, he was injured. After learning to love the game of basketball in a wild and torrid four-year romance, he has literally been divorced from the game due to his foot injury.  That made him ripe for Sam Hinkie’s process.  High upside with a dented outlook.

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