The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Do Simmons and Embiid have GOAT potential?

By Rusty Gorelick

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts along with Ben Simmons #25 after drawing a technical foul on Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on November 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts along with Ben Simmons #25 after drawing a technical foul on Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on November 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA,PA – NOVEMBER 25 : Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic at Wells Fargo Center on November 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA – NOVEMBER 25 : Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic at Wells Fargo Center on November 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

How does Joel Embiid compare to the GOATs?

In comparing Embiid’s playmaking ability to Arvydas Sabonis, who is arguably the best passing center of all time, Embiid, at least through the 12 games he has played this year, has a higher assists per game average of 3.5 than Sabonis did in his best season when he averaged three per game.

The turnover averages of the two hold Sabonis in a  higher esteem in terms of playmaking: the Lithuanian averaged just 1.8 turnovers per game for his career, whereas the Cameroonian averages 3.9 in his short career.

For his scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking, Embiid has career averages of 21 points, 8.9 boards, and 2.3 blocks each night, and he put up those numbers with the first 31 games of his career under a minutes restriction. People usually compare Embiid to Hakeem Olajuwon, who averaged 22.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game over the course of his career: he averaged 36.4 minutes per game in the 18 seasons he played in the league.

Olajuwon is arguably the best center of all time, but for all intents and purposes, another comparison to a possible GOAT center is necessary for Embiid. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the top scorer in NBA history and won six MVP awards. He put up 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game in his 19 seasons in the league.

Embiid can certainly average the same stats that Abdul-Jabbar and Olajuwon did, but the main question is whether or not he can do it for the amount of time they did it for. If he can stay healthy and keep up this level of play for almost two decades, then Embiid could possibly become the best center of all time. That “if” is even larger than Embiid’s 7-foot-2 frame, but Sixers fans and NBA fans as a whole must hope the enigmatic, eccentric center can stay on the floor.