Embiid went off for 20 points in 20 minutes during his first career game. In his debut, he flashed unreal talent and upside ranking him as the best pure rookie talent. Embiid used his two year hiatus effectively, as he already has a sense of how the NBA works. His 7-foot-2 stature has developed a significant arsenal of offensive shots to match his defensive prowess. He is so far beyond that of typical rookies from a physical perspective that it’s almost easy to forget that he hasn’t played competitive basketball in two years.
Embiid must work to the emerging as the clear-cut number one in these rankings by overcoming the ongoing saga with the Philadelphia 76ers. The team still has a log jam in the frontcourt, and Noel and Okafor will heal. Despite handed the starting gig, Embiid faces minutes restrictions for some time. Since he is the crown jewel, the team will err on the side of being too conservative .
With all that said, Embiid is simply a beast. He showcased perimeter shooting that far exceeds what he offered coming out of college, and put on the type of footwork display around the basket that made a highly talented Jahlil Okafor look inferior in that department. Embiid was already a defensive stud entering the league, and has only added the type of bulk that will increase his dominance on that side of the ball as the year progresses. His evolution as an offensive cornerstone is unbelievably promising.
Embiid has the size needed to work his way wherever he wants on the court, and if given the opportunity will likely surpass anybody positioned ahead of him in this race–it’s simply at matter of those opportunities being present.
His size and skill level don’t come along all that often. We saw Anthony Davis evolve from a defensive freak in college to an all-around superstar once he hit the NBA. If Embiid is capable of reaching anywhere within the vicinity of Davis’ upside this season, then feel free to bump him up a spot to 1st on this list.