1. Joel Embiid
PRESEASON RANKING: 1
This comes as no surprise. There was only one dissenting vote when it came to Embiid at No. 1, and my co-expert Lucas Johnson explained his stance on The Sixer Sense Podcast, which you can check out here on the site. Embiid is, frankly, the Sixers’ top player, and he’s more than deserving of that title.
A hulking 7-footer who is both bruising and nimble, Embiid has single-handedly resisted the NBA’s revolution. He has become the exception to the rule — someone you want isolating in the post, even as the league shifts to the perimeter. Embiid’s efficiency, held up in part because of his excellent free throw shooting, makes him a wholly unique offensive weapon.
For all the talent Simmons possesses as a 6-foot-10 wunderkind, when push comes to shove, the buck stops at Embiid. He’s the one Philadelphia leans on in crunch time. He’s the superstar talent who, if the Sixers are to reach the biggest stage, will experience those patented ‘superstar moments.’
In addition to his bully-ball proficiency on offense, Embiid is a walking top-five defense. His presence alone virtually ensures an elite D, even if the personnel around him is middling. The Sixers have had all sorts of problems this season, but Embiid’s towering clean-up efforts are a necessary constant. He’s one of the top rim protectors in basketball.
Embiid is not without his flaws. He can fall back on black-hole tendencies under pressure. He’s prone to the occasional turnover, or the occasional bad shot. But in the grand scheme of the NBA, Embiid has carved out his spot in the pantheon of modern greats. He’s a top-10 player and will only improve.
The Sixers have one of the league’s most special talents, and he happens to love the city as much as the city loves him. It’s a special bond, and barring injury or ill-advised trade, one that should persist for a long time.