Philadelphia 76ers: Where Joel Embiid ranks among all starting centers

Is Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid the best center in the NBA?

With LeBron James in L.A., some have been quick to proclaim Joel Embiid the best player in the Eastern Conference. While that might be a stretch — Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are good — he’s certainly in the conversation. That’s a positive sign for Philadelphia 76ers fans.

Embiid finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season. He also made second team All-Defense and second team All-NBA, with a starting All-Star spot thrown in for good measure. That all came in his second NBA season.

His growth from injury-riddled uncertainty to generational talent has been fun to watch. He’s constantly among the best storylines in the NBA, ranging from his off-court antics to his incredible backstory. He embodies The Process, and Philadelphia, in every possible way.

Here at TSS, we’ve taken the time to rank every Sixers starter against their peers. Embiid is the last on the list, with Ben Simmons (point guards), J.J. Redick (shooting guards), Robert Covington (small forwards) and Dario Saric (power forwards) all completed.

Embiid is unique in that he’s challenging for the top spot. The question is, does he get it?