The Sixer Sense
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Joel Embiid cracks SI.com’s Top 50

By Christopher Kline

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 16: Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a photo during the 2017 All-Star Media Circuit at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans, LA. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 16: Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a photo during the 2017 All-Star Media Circuit at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans, LA. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SI.com’s Top 100 list continued on Monday, with Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid making his appearance.

It’s understandably difficult to rank Joel Embiid against the rest of the NBA. He has appeared in 31 games, all on minutes restrictions, while his first two campaigns were spent entirely on the sidelines due to injury. There’s still no guarantee that he can survive an entire season, and that alone is enough to cause concern when comparing him to other stars around the league.

Sports Illustrated took that into account when ranking the Philadelphia 76ers‘ star in their 2018 Top 100 list, where he fell all the way to No. 41:

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

"This ranking—a futile attempt to bridge two extremes—will likely be wrong. It’s possible that Embiid plays out his 2017-18 season as something close to a top-10 player. The talent and the impact are there. It’s somewhat more likely, however, that the 23-year-old who has played just 31 games in three years again sees his season undercut by injury. For Embiid to play 50 or 60 games could feel like an incredible victory. That’s a tough sell for a top-40 player, no matter his evident qualifications…… When he’s able to play, Embiid is highly skilled and physically overwhelming. The evidence to date suggests he’s one of the league’s most influential defenders at the rim, where his combination of size and mobility can flummox even the most sophisticated scorers. To get all this from a player still feeling out the game in real time underlines Embiid’s legendary potential. It just couldn’t move him any higher up our list—not when the scope of our ranking is the 2017-18 season alone. Embiid is awesome. He also has never played 30 or more minutes in an NBA game, played in a back-to-back, or made it through a full season intact."

41 does feel low for Embiid. Even in limited playing time, he was one of the league’s best defenders and a historically-proficient offensive player during his time on the court last season. It took him under 26 minutes per game to accumulate 20.2 points and 2.5 blocks per contest — both of which are towards the top of the league at the center position.

At 7-foot-2, Embiid’s physique is virtually unheralded. You rarely see players with his size and strength around the interior move so fluidly out to the perimeter.

Even while he was getting his feet back under him after two years of rehab, Embiid was sticking with guards off the dribble and making quick recoveries to the basket. He has the ability to cover ground like few — if any — other centers can, and that made him an absolute terror for opposing offenses.

He also did everything on the other side of the ball, showing off a legitimate 3-point shot while bullying his way to baskets with an uncanny display of power and footwork on the low block. He garnered Hakeem Olajuwon comparisons 20 games into his NBA career. The list of comparable seasons is relatively short.

In a vacuum, when fully healthy, Embiid is a top 15 player — something SI.com took note of. It’s just a matter of health, as Philadelphia’s ability to rely on him is hindered by the fact that he hasn’t yet been able to hold up for an entire season.

He’s the Sixers’ best player and arguably the best center in the league. Let’s hope he’s able to stay on the floor and prove it next season.

Next: Ranking the Sixers, No. 15

It’s also worth noting that Markelle Fultz presumably didn’t make the list. With Ben Simmons and Lonzo Ball also not making it, it’s likely an effort to stave off those who haven’t played yet rather than any slight against Fultz’s talent.