Philadelphia 76ers: J.J. Redick thinks Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons are generational talents
J.J. Redick had high praise for the Philadelphia 76ers’ stars in a recent interview.
After the LeBron James saga dragged out for all of one day, J.J. Redick had some decisions to make in free agency. Both the Pacers and Lakers pursued him, but the veteran sharpshooter inevitably returned to the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year, $12.25 million contract.
We’ve heard countless times that Redick wants to finish his career in Philly, so the results weren’t too surprising. He enjoyed his time with the team last season and the Sixers are aiming to compete moving forward.
Another perk of playing with the Sixers is his teammates. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons demand a lot of attention, which in turn opens up scoring opportunities for Redick. Brett Brown also made sure Redick was an offensive focal point last season.
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In a recent interview with Stadium’s Jeff Goodman, Redick heaped praise on Embiid and Simmons, calling them generational talents in the process.
"“If [Joel Embiid] stays healthy, he’ll probably go down as probably the best player I’ve ever played with. And the only other guy who I would say could maybe take that would be [Ben Simmons]. And I really mean that… Chris Paul is one of the greatest point guards of all time, one of best friends, but Jo and Ben are that good”"
That’s quite the praise for two players still under the age of 25. And he might be right.
CP3 will go down as an all-time great, with or without a championship to his name. He’s arguably the best point guard of his generation, combining elite court vision with craftiness that allowed him to thrive despite being just 6-foot.
Already a nine-time All-Star, Paul has the chance to add to his resume again this season. Redick isn’t taking away from Paul’s accomplishments — he’s stating the immense potential both Embiid and Simmons possess.
After just two active seasons, Embiid is already an All-Star starter and the NBA’s best center. He’s not only an elite offensive talent, but he will be a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate moving forward.
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We haven’t seen someone with his level of physical dominance since Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard, both of whom are Hall of Fame talents. Embiid still needs to control his turnovers in the post, but he boasts an unrivaled blend of strength and finesse on the low block.
Add in a viable face-up game and the occasional three-pointer, and it’s understandable to set such lofty expectations for the former No. 3 pick.
Simmons, like Redick said, does have a legitimate chance to surpass Embiid. As long as his shooting comes around, Simmons is the perfect star for the modern NBA — an ultra-versatile playmaker who can push the tempo, attack the rim and find open teammates.
He has legitimate shades of LeBron James and Magic Johnson in his passing. He can also defend all five positions, which is extremely valuable in the modern NBA. Simmons has the very real ability to average a triple-double at some point, a feat only Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook have accomplished.
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If both Embiid and Simmons reach their ceiling, the Sixers will have two top-10 NBA players. Maybe even the best player, depending on the extent of Simmons’ offensive development. Redick is right — they’re that good.