Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid May Prove Better Than The Brochure

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Oct 11, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) drives against Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) during the first quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

Just Getting Started

Joel Embiid has had neither a game started or played. But his preseason showing has demonstrated little in the way of rust or inexperience.

With 15 points tonight, Joel Embiid has scored 62 points in 85 minutes this preseason. That's, uh, 26.3 points per 36 minutes. #theprocess
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) October 16, 2016

While it’s preseason, its truly the NBA now. NBA speed, NBA players, NBA pressure, NBA competition. So far, the only hold up on Embiid is his conditioning. He talked about the demands of his debut to the NBA with Sixers.com Brian Seltzer:

"“I’m 200 percent. As far as game shape wise, I’m not 100-percent,” said Embiid, offering a realistic status report. “I still get tired. In practice, we’ve got to work on that. It’s starting to get easier, I’m starting to figure it out,” he said about playing at full-on game speed. “The game is becoming easy. It’s a little bit physical, which I’m getting used to, all the big bodies. It’s just starting to get easy for me.”"

This is on just 85 minutes of NBA caliber play.