The Philadelphia 76ers’ big man earns a high honor.
Bleacher Report has spent this week ranking the top players at each position. Ben Simmons came in at No. 4 on the point guard list, Josh Richardson was subsequently snubbed from the two-guards list, and Tobias Harris rebounded with a top-15 finish at power forward. No Al Horford, unfortunately.
To round things out, the center position. Dan Favale and Andy Bailey — who, I cannot stress enough, are wonderfully gifted writers — produced another logical rundown of the position’s top 15 players. The Philadelphia 76ers’ lone inclusion is Joel Embiid, who landed at No. 2.
The No. 1 spot went to Nikola Jokic.
While many in the Sixers fandom would argue for Embiid at No. 1 — an argument I subscribe to — this ranking is based on value added in 2019-20. And while Embiid has had a strong season, it hasn’t been his most consistent.
Embiid’s numbers are down across the board in comparison to 2018-19. He’s averaging four fewer points per game, his blocked shots have dipped, and even his assists have taken a slight downturn — albeit in three fewer minutes per game. Embiid’s efficiency remains high due to his foul-drawing ability, but for most of this season, he has been strangely passive and unassertive.
At this best, Embiid is arguably the best defender in basketball. He’s a towering rim protector who’s more mobile than the likes of Rudy Gobert. At his best, Embiid is one of the most versatile offensive bigs in the world — a capable 3-point shooter, a talented face-up threat, and a domineering presence in the post.
This season, however, has not been Embiid at his best. It has conversely been Jokic at his best. The latter is one of the best passers on the planet, a skilled three-level scorer, and a better defender than most give him credit for. Jokic is one of the NBA’s most prolific offensive engines. To act as if he’s not on Embiid’s level would be disrespectful.
Embiid can still silence critics with a strong postseason. He will take on greater responsibility this year in the absence of Jimmy Butler, a challenge he seems to welcome. In the grand scheme of things, Embiid is probably a better player than Jokic — or at least, more “talented.” But as far as this season goes, Jokic probably deserves the top spot. And so it goes.