The Sixer Sense
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The Sixer Sense Roundtable: Joel Embiid First Impressions

By Josh Wilson

Nov 7, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) warms up before a game against the Utah Jazz at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) warms up before a game against the Utah Jazz at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts after a collision during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Wells Fargo Center. The Orlando Magic won 103-101. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts after a collision during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Wells Fargo Center. The Orlando Magic won 103-101. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

When the Philadelphia 76ers drafted Joel Embiid with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, no one really knew what to expect. We knew that he was raw and that he had a ton of potential, but we didn’t know just how much potential.

Eight games into his NBA career, I think it’s safe to say the Sixers made the right pick. Simply put, this kid is dominant.

Embiid is easily the best player on the 76ers’ roster and has shown a tremendous amount of confidence while going up against some of the best centers in the league.

Standing at 7-2, he’s generally the biggest player on the court at all times, no matter who he’s faced up against. He’s able to body smaller centers down low in the paint and has been an excellent shot-blocker early in the season (CC: LeBron James).

But what makes him truly special is his ability to handle the basketball with ease and hit outside jump shots.

In other words, people who are as big as Embiid shouldn’t be able to do the kind of stuff that he’s doing. Also, he didn’t start playing basketball until six years ago. People who started playing basketball just six years ago shouldn’t be able to do the kind of stuff that he’s doing.

Again, he’s only played eight games so far in his career, and there’s no telling just how high his potential is, but one thing is for sure:

The sky is the limit.

— Kevin Kolodziej