Better Than What?
Joel Embiid has been envisioned to be the best of both Jahlil Okafor offensively and Nerlens Noel defensively. How does that translate into his rookie year? Well, we know offensively that Jahlil Okafor scored 17.5 points per game, and chipped in 7.0 rebounds per game, 1.15 blocks per game, and 1.2 assists per game on a average of 30 minutes playing time. Nerlens Noel in his rookie season averaged 8.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.8 steals and 9.9 points on 30.8 minutes per game.
Daily Knicks
The best of both would be 17.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.8 steals per 30 minutes, or
8.75 points, 4 rebounds, 1.0 block and .9 steals per 15 minutes of play.
So far, the young center is averaging 14.2 minutes of play. He is averaging 10.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and .2 steals. In his 85 minutes, he’s already beginning to show more than either of the previous two centers of the Philadelphia 76ers.
If he continues the pace of production and improvement, he clearly will be a leader of this team both offensively and defensively. In his rookie season, that jump to the lead of the team is the sign that Joel Embiid clearly is on track to challenge the ranks of the NBA elite to be included in their ranks.
Brown: "Joel (Embiid) is on track so far. What I've seen so far is we have great reason to be excited."
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 15, 2016
And so, the possibility is fading and the reality is forming. This may not be a .500 season for the Philadelphia 76ers, but it could be a landmark season nevertheless. With the arrival of Embiid to the forefront of the team’s lineup, the dynamics of this team are changing each day.
Next: Forget Being Careful With Embiid, the Sixers Want More
It may no longer be whether Joel Embiid will fit on Ben Simmons‘ team, but whether Ben Simmons fits on Embiid’s team. Since both have posted historically high scores in the BPM measure, the outcome is the same. The Philadelphia 76ers have two players who can lead them to a championship.