Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid still lacks an identity

The Philadelphia 76ers’ star must decide what type of player he is.

We had waited two years for his debut. It was Oct. 26, 2016. With the Philadelphia 76ers up 8-2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Joel Embiid dribbled twice toward the top of the key. He planted a pivot foot, spun right, came back to the center, and lifted a sweet jumpshot. Swish.

His first official NBA basket was a tease of what was to come. With four seasons of highlights etched into our memories and over 200 games under his belt, Joel has expanded his skill set. Yet, has he tried to add too much to his game? Is this why his production stats dipped this season? Is it why his turnover rate is still sky high? Embiid’s game stagnates because he has yet to form an identity.

His perception is that he must be a Swiss Army knife. In his Players’ Tribune article, Embiid laments that he cannot peg himself as a typical big man the way most NBA traditionalists like Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal suggest. Embiid explains, “If we’re going to win a title, I gotta be a little bit of Dream, and a little bit of Iverson, and a little bit of Kooooobeeeeeeeeeeeeee.”

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I’m sorry, Joel — I don’t need to see you trying to break ankles the way A.I. used to do.

To be fair, Embiid started playing basketball when he was 15! While he was kicking soccer balls and serving volleyballs in Cameroon, his current peers were playing AAU ball before they even hit puberty. And now, while attempting to catch up, he’s emulating almost every NBA star under the sun. It’s like he is playing every game on the casino floor with hopes of winning at every table. Unless you’re LeBron James, it doesn’t work that way.

If Embiid truly wants to reach his potential, he must choose a game that fits his size. There’s a reason why a semi truck and a Porsche don’t handle the road the same. Pulling a crossover on an opponent like he did against Giannis on national TV a year ago looked nice, but more than half the time that play results in a turnover. When a bounce range from hip to floor has more height than Nate Robinson, too many hands will swipe the ball away.

In comparison, Stephen Curry will never dominate the boards, nor should he even try. His frame and size limit him to focus on what he does best: snipe from beyond the arc and drive the lane when needed. What is wrong with a big man just being a…BIG MAN?

Embiid is skilled, yes. He has a shooting touch soft as a feather, but he is seven feet tall and 280 pounds. Driving the lane from 24 feet out is a habit that even the Eurostep won’t spare him from frequent charges or travel calls. So what is imperative for The Process to dominate?

Embiid’s identity as a big man must form sooner than later if the Sixers wish to see him limit his turnovers and become more efficient. Should he be like his idol, Kobe, and obsessively watch footage of Jordan? No. But watching footage of Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, and David Robinson and patterning his game like theirs would bring the big fella closer to his truest self.

Could you imagine if Joel Embiid mastered low post moves like Hakeem and committed to becoming a true big man? Chuck and Shaq can imagine it. So can I.