Joel Embiid isn’t a steal because of his draft position. It’s the circumstances of his draft position that land “The Process” so high on this list. He was the third overall pick due to health concerns. The two prospects preceding him were Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.
After their early career fanfare, both Wiggins and Parker have plateaued. Wiggins signed a max extension after promising to improve and then proceeded to get worse, if anything. Parker has dealt with injuries and no longer possesses a clear path forward in the NBA.
Embiid lost his first two seasons to foot complications. Yet the Sixers maintained confidence, even after Sam Hinkie was unjustly forced out and Bryan Colangelo brought in to replace him. It’s fair to say their patience was worthwhile.
Since returning, Embiid has looked the part of a generational talent. He’s the best player to grace red, white and blue since Allen Iverson, leading the Sixers to two postseason appearances in his first three (healthy) seasons.
Health is a relative term with Embiid — he has missed significant games in all three campaigns — but he’s an elite rim protector, a throwback post scorer and a well-rounded two-way threat. He’s the best center in basketball at age-24 and still has room for growth.
The Sixers pulled off an absolute heist and now have a cornerstone for the next five-plus seasons, if not 10 or more. He’s as special as a third overall pick gets.