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Is Joel Embiid in All-Star Game Good or Bad for League?

By Pete Sawan

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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As much as us Philadelphia 76ers fans want Joel Embiid in the All-Star Game, does it make sense for the league as a whole to let him compete in it?

There’s about a month and a half left until the All-Star break. You know what that means: All-Star voting! With that comes the traditional voting of the best players in the league. Guys like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook are shoo-ins to make the starting line-up.

But, where does that leave the rest of the guys? In particular, and I didn’t think I’d be saying this, Joel Embiid. Yes, Joel Embiid is receiving a huge amount of voting traction within the Philadelphia 76ers fanbase and beyond. He is without a doubt one of the most popular players in the league. Will this popularity, along with his historic play in his first season, get him the All-Star nod?

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For argument’s sake, let’s say he gets voted in as a starter by the fans. According to the NBA’s new  CBA, fans will now account for 50 percent of the All-Star voting. The NBA players and select media will account for 25 percent each, respectively. Even though this is a smaller percentage than in previous years, fans still hold the majority. So, fans still have a huge say in who gets voted in. I bring this up because JoJo is a fan favorite, and will most likely garner lots of support from the fans. This could be his ticket into the big game.

With all that being said, should Joel Embiid get in? Is he deserving of being voted in as an All-Star starter? It all depends on what side of the argument you stand on. If you strictly want the best of the best in the ASG, than you’re okay with it. If you support the idea of “paying your dues” and having only veterans compete in the ASG, than you’re against it.

“The Process” in The All-Star Game

So, the case for Joel Embiid’s entrance into the ASG is predicated around his play this season. He has been outstanding in the 21 games that he has played. Among centers, he’s fourth in the league in points averaging 18.7 points per game. In the Eastern Conference, that puts him in first. He’s one of the most dominant scoring threats in the league, and he’s only a rookie (on a minutes restriction, too).

Essentially, he’s the top scoring big in his conference and provides an extra dimension with his 3-point shooting. He’s currently averaging a solid 3-point percentage at 40.3 percent. He hasn’t taken a whole lot, which is why he isn’t ranked among the league’s best. That being said, if he were eligible he would be in the top five among shooting centers. The man’s offense alone should warrant his All-Star Game candidacy.

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On the defensive end, Joel Embiid has been just as good. He has been one of the most dominant rim-protectors in the league. JoJo is currently averaging 2.38 blocks per game. That’s third in the league and second in the eastern conference behind Myles Turner. The Process has been a beast, and can cover almost any position.

For instance, one of Embiid’s specialties is taking guys on the pick and roll. He isn’t afraid of going up against the opposing team’s point guard. JoJo is as confident a defender as he is a scorer. So, with that being said he should be considered for the All-Star Game. He has been on of the best bigs in the league. By definition, that should make him eligible for the All-Star Game.

Should Rookies be Allowed in the All-Star Game?

The real counterargument to Joel Embiid being in the ASG is his rookie status. Contrary to popular belief, rookies have competed in the All-Star Game. In fact, 45 rookies have played in the All-Star game since it was introduced. The most recent player to do so was Blake Griffin back in 2011. Oddly enough, Griffin’s case is very similar to that of Embiid’s.

Both guys sat out of their initial rookie season due to injuries, but Embiid sat out two years. Still, both guys didn’t even compete in their “rookie” seasons, yet both players ended up dominating upon their returns. So, it’s not unheard of for rookies to play in the All-Star Game.

In addition, the other argument against Joel Embiid playing in the All-Star Game is his lack of games played. Embiid has played a grand total of 21 games so far this season. In total, the Sixers have played 30 games this season. He’s missed 30 percent of the team’s games, or 9 games. This lack of a sample size puts Embiid at a slight disadvantage.

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Embiid’s rookie status also undermines other centers in the east. Seasoned veterans would be marginalized if Embiid is voted in. Guys like Andre Drummond and Hassan Whiteside would potentially get get reserve spots or not get voted in. These are guys who are trying to make names for themselves now that they are established talents.

The counterargument to this is basically that they should be playing better. The All-Star team consists of the best talents a conference has to offer. If that talent includes a rookie bigman, so be it. The East has a plethora of solid bigs, but only a few stars. Embiid has shown in a short period of time that he can hang with those big names.

Should He Get In?

Would Embiid playing in the All-Star game be good for the NBA? It makes sense that there are those who believe that rookies have no business playing in the ASG. Yes, he’s a rookie. But, the talent is there. Joel Embiid has shown promise and is able to hang with he other bigs in this league. So, why shouldn’t he get in? The league could use a personality like JoJo’s in the All-Star Game. It would make everything even more entertaining to watch.

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Joel Embiid is a generational talent. If you want to draw people to the All-Star Game, you display the best talents. Just Because Joel Embiid is a rookie, it doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be eligible. Generational talents deserve the biggest and brightest stages. Embiid would shine on such a stage.