The Sixer Sense
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Personality and talent combine to make Joel Embiid the NBA’s newest superstar

By Ben Wieland

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 24: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after making a three point basket along with Justin Anderson #1, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #7, and Dario Saric #9 in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center on January 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 115-101. 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 - JANUARY 24: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after making a three point basket along with Justin Anderson #1, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #7, and Dario Saric #9 in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center on January 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 115-101. 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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Joel Embiid’s combination of personality and talent is what makes him a superstar for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The one thing nobody questions about Joel Embiid, stud center for the Philadelphia 76ers, is his talent. Embiid has played less than one season’s worth of NBA games in his career and is already an All-Star starter.

He’s a big man who can destroy undersized centers with Shaq-like size, dominate unskilled big men with his Hakeem-esque footwork and finesse, shoot a three, or drive from the perimeter and Eurostep for an easy layup.

But, as crazy as it sounds and as talented as Embiid is, that talent isn’t what sets him apart from other up-and-coming future NBA stars. There are other young players in the NBA who are talented. Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis, Kristaps Porzingis, and Giannis Antetokounmpko are four other young big men who are, at least talent-wise, comparable to Embiid.

But there’s one thing that sets Joel Embiid apart from these other star big men. It has nothing to do with how well Embiid plays basketball.

Embiid’s Unique Personality

Embiid is a personality. He’s a marketable product more than nearly any other player in the NBA. These other young big men don’t have the type of lighthearted fun that Joel Embiid does.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis flop, whine, and complain to the refs after every questionable call. Anthony Davis has looked apathetic since teammate DeMarcus Cousins tore his Achilles. And Giannis is just… nice. That’s not a bad thing, he’s a great guy. There’s just no edge, no conflict to his personality.

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Embiid is must-watch TV whenever he sets foot on the court, not just for his basketball abilities, but for his theatrics as well. So far this season, he’s trash talked Willie Reed, Donovan Mitchell, and Andre Drummond and angered them enough that their reaction was issued a technical foul.

And that’s just on the court. His trash talk continues off the court as well. On Instagram and Twitter, Embiid has mocked LaVar Ball, Draymond Green, Russell Westbrook, Hassan Whiteside, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Andre Drummond. A team made up of players that Embiid has roasted would be a title contender.

The best part about Joel Embiid’s trash talk is that it’s all an act. In one contest with the Pistons earlier this season, Embiid waved Drummond goodbye after drawing Drummond’s sixth and final foul. This encouraged loud cheers from the Sixers home crowd, and a smoldering Drummond angrily walked to the bench. Not five minutes later, after the game ended, Embiid and Drummond were hugging it out in the postgame handshake line.

A Special Player

A star player and unique personality like Embiid, who has just enough attitude to create on-court intensity but can calm himself down after the fact and say that it was all just in good fun, is exactly what the NBA needs.

Next: 2018 NBA Draft Big Board 5.0

No other young players are as electrifying and energized on and off the court as Joel Embiid.